Women's Basketball Coaching Staff
Head Coach Naomi Graves
When Naomi Graves arrived at Springfield College in 1991, the women’s basketball team had won nine games in the previous three seasons combined. Under the watchful eye of Graves, the program is now one of the best in New England. Entering her 19th season as head coach and assistant professor of physical education at Springfield College, and 25th season as a head coach overall, in 2009-10, Graves has directed her squads to an impressive 266-117 record (.697 winning percentage) since joining the Division III ranks in 1995. Graves has led the Pride to eleven post-season bids in the past 14 years, including five berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past nine years. Graves’ squads have also won five New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships in the past nine years, and she has also been honored with three NEWMAC Coach of the Year Awards.
In May of 2008, Graves was one of 30 coaches selected from around the country to attend the 2008 NCAA Women Coaches Academy in Denver, Colo. The Academy provides skills training for coaches at all levels to assist them in being more efficient, productive, resourceful and successful. While at the Academy, Graves was honored as a co-recipient of the Judy Sweet Award, which was voted on by her peers. The award recognizes members of the Denver Academy Class who's spirit and willingness to share and live her story with integrity and perspective for her own and others personal and professional success has made an impact.
The 2004-2005 season ranks as one of Graves’ best seasons. The team started with a very respectable 8-4 record, but finished the season 17-2 in its last 19 games, winning both the regular-season and post-season NEWMAC titles. The season came to an end with a loss to Southern Maine in the NCAA Division III Elite 8. This was the Pride's most impressive run in NCAA tournament play in the school's history. On the season, the Pride tied the school record with 25 wins.
Graves received her bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Rhode Island in 1982. She was captain of the basketball team and scored 1,862 career points (second best in school history) while receiving URI Female Athlete of the Year honors as a senior. Graves was named to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) All-American team as a senior, and was an All-New England selection in each of her four years with the Rams. She was inducted into the URI Athletics Hall of Fame on October 20, 1995.
Graves served one year as an assistant basketball coach at URI before attending graduate school at Springfield College, where she earned her master’s degree in physical education in 1985. She also was a women’s graduate assistant coach for two seasons.
Graves served as president of the Women’s Basketball Association in 1986 and was a member of the ECAC Selection Committee for three years. Graves is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and was the District 1 representative for the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year committee. She was and continues to be a member of the New England Women's Basketball Coaches Association (NEWBA).
A native of Williamsburg, Mass., Graves ranks among the state’s all-time basketball greats. As a senior at Hampshire Regional High School, she averaged 23 points and 17 rebounds and was named a high school All-American. Graves led her squad to four state championships and earned an unprecedented three MVP Awards at the Western Massachusetts State Tournament. Graves was the Western Massachusetts scoring leader with 2,137 career points until former Southwick High star (and UConn All-American) Rebecca Lobo broke her record.
On Nov. 26, 1999, the Springfield Union-News ranked Graves 36th on its list of the top 100 Western Massachusetts Athletes of the Century.
Assistant Coach Cassandra Loftus
Cassandra Loftus is in her second year as a collegiate coach at Springfield College. She came to the Pioneer Valley a year ago from St. Anselm College, a Division II school in Manchester, N.H. While there, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history. Loftus first attended Brandeis University before transferring to St. Anselm, where she served as a two-year captain on the women’s basketball team. In her senior season, she recorded statistical highs in minutes played, points, and rebounds. She was also the chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, where she helped to facilitate volunteer efforts by the student-athlete body, assisted in raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and represented her school in Northeast-10 Conference meetings. Loftus had previous coaching experience as a two-year coach of the New England Crusaders, a nationally-recognized AAU program. At Springfield College, she is pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education.
Assistant Coach Staci Andrews
Staci Andrews is beginning her collegiate coaching career this season at Springfield College. At Springfield, she intends to pursue a master’s degree in sport psychology as well as to gain valuable experience under Head Coach Naomi Graves. Staci earned her bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. in 1998. She was captain of their basketball team and contributed as a four-year starter, while being named to the All-Academic and All-Athletic West Coast Conference teams as a senior. Andrews then moved back to California where she taught sixth grade at Grover Heights Elementary School, and also coached the junior varsity as well as assisting the varsity team at her alma mater, Arroyo Grande High School. She also facilitated the athletic development of high school basketball players as the owner of Central Coast Baller Academy.
Assistant Coach Ashley Chapple
Ashley Chapple joins Springfield’s squad in her first season as an assistant coach. Chapple, a graduate of SUNY Cortland, will act as the junior varsity assistant coach for the Pride. A native of New York, Chapple was a two-year captain at Albany High and was a Section II Big 10 honorable mention and Exceptional Senior honoree. She is the assistant director of Youth Hoops Camp for Girls in Albany and has been an active coach in the Albany girls’ basketball scene for the last several years. At SUNY-Cortland, Chapple earned a degree in physical education as she graduated magna cum laude and was awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration.
Team Links
- 2009-2010 Schedule
- 2009-2010 Roster
- 2009-2010 Statistics
- 2009-2010 Coaching Staff
- 2009-2010 JV Schedule
- Photo Gallery
- Live Stats
- Alumni Questionnaire
- NEWMACsports.com
- D3hoops.com
- Team Archives
Head Coach Naomi Graves
Entering her 19th season as head coach in 2009-10, Naomi Graves has directed her squads to an impressive 266-117 record (.695 winning percentage) since joining the Division III ranks in 1995. Graves has led the Pride to eleven post-season bids in the past 14 years, including five berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past nine years.
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