Bucknell University Athletics
Russ Sarfaty and Jackie Smith Join Bucknell Women's Basketball Staff
9/26/2003 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 26, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Russ Sarfaty, a former coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and Jackie Smith, a former standout for Furman University, join the Bucknell women's basketball coaching staff as assistants to the Bison, head coach Kathy Fedorjaka has announced.
Sarfaty, who brings more than 22 years of coaching experience to the BU program, joins the Orange and Blue program as the top assistant after a one-year stint with Winthrop. While there, he was the Eagles' recruiting coordinator, while also serving as the team's travel coordinator.
"I am very excited to welcome Russ to our Bucknell women's basketball staff and to the Lewisburg community," commented Fedorjaka. "Russ brings a variety of experience and knowledge to this position and I believe that he will have an immediate and positive impact on the program."
A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with a bachelor of science in physical education and health, Sarfaty's coaching career began with a head girl's coaching position at Decatur Central High School in 1977. After a six year stay at the school, which included leading the team to the program's only "Sweet Sixteen" appearance, and a one year commitment at Cathedral High School, he moved on to his first collegiate coaching role at Butler University.
Sarfaty was the head women's basketball coach at Butler from 1984-88, a time in which the school was transitioning from a Division II to a Division I program. After his time with the Bulldogs and nearly a 10-year hiatus from the college coaching ranks, he returned to take on the role of assistant women's basketball coach at James Madison University in 1997.
While with the Dukes until 2002, Sarfaty was the academic coordinator and saw a 100% graduation rate of all of the four-year students who fell under his tutelage.
At Bucknell, Sarfaty's responsibilities will include full involvement in recruiting prospective student-athletes and scouting upcoming opponents. Sarfaty will also assist in the day-to-day on-court development of players, as well as assist with scheduling.
 Jackie Smith joins the Bucknell women's basketball coaching staff as a second assistant.  |
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A 2000 graduate of Furman, Smith brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and a highly decorated collegiate career to the Orange and Blue program. While playing for the Lady Paladins, the two-year captain earned the Southern Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year award as both a sophomore and a junior. She was a three-time first-team all-Southern Conference player, and was named the Furman University Edna Hartness Female Athlete of the Year in 1999.
Upon graduation, Smith took her basketball skills overseas, spending time with professional teams in Europe and Israel. She got her hand in coaching this past summer when she served as an assistant coach for the 15-Under AAU Fairfax Stars, which won the National AAU Tournament in July.
"We are extremely excited about the addition of Jackie to our coaching staff and our program," said coach Fedorjaka. "She has recently finished a stellar playing career both at Furman University and professionally in the European leagues. Jackie will bring a great deal of playing experience and success to our team."
Smith received a bachelor of science in health and exercise science, and has spent the past year as a certified personal trainer for the Washington Sports Club in Springfield, Va. In addition, since April of 2003 she has been a physical therapy aide in Alexandria, Va.
At Bucknell, Smith's responsibilities will include full involvement in scouting upcoming opponents and recruiting prospective student-athletes. Smith will also serve as the women's basketball team's travel coordinator and the contact for Bucknell's camps and clinics.
Bucknell led the nation in graduation rates in the 2003 survey conducted by the NCAA and the U.S. Department of Education. Bucknell graduated 100% of the student-athletes who entered school in 1996. It is the fourth time Bucknell has led the nation in graduation rates (1992, 1993, 1996, 2003). During the 2002-03 academic year, Bison student-athletes were awarded five of the 22 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete citations. Bucknell also claimed a league-high 297 members of the 2002-03 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, which honors student-athletes who achieve a 3.20 grade-point average during the semester coinciding with his/her sport.
