Siena Names Ali Jaques Women's Basketball Head Coach
Siena Sports Information
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Following a national search, Siena College
has found the person it hopes can take the women's basketball program to
new heights. Ali Jaques
was introduced as the eighth head coach in program history during a 2
p.m. press conference Thursday afternoon in the Marcelle Athletic
Complex.
"I am humbled and honored to be named the head coach at Siena,"
said Jaques. "The tradition of Siena Basketball's greatness is one I am
extremely excited to be a part of. To be able to start my head coaching
career at such a welcoming place with great people to support me made
this decision simple."
Jaques, 35, brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience to
Loudonville, having served as an assistant coach at six different
institutions. Her teams have posted four NCAA Tournament wins and three
WNIT victories.
Jaques comes to Loudonville following a four-year stint at
Northwestern in which she was the associate head coach the past two
seasons under Joe McKeown. During her time in Evanston, Jaques served as
the recruiting coordinator for a program which boasted the 14th ranked
recruiting class in the nation in 2011 and the No. 20 ranked recruiting
class in 2009 according to ESPN Hoopgurlz.
Jaques helped guide the Wildcats to a pair of WNIT Appearances
including a spot in the Sweet 16 in 2009-10. That season, Northwestern
increased its win total by 11 victories - tied for the 10th best
turnaround in the nation and fourth among BCS schools - and made its
first appearance in postseason play in 13 years. Additionally, she
mentored and coached Amy Jaeschke who was the 27th pick in the 2011 WNBA
Draft by the Chicago Sky.
Her Northwestern teams also excelled in the classroom. During her four
years in Evanston, Jaques coached 15 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and
an Academic All-District selection.
"I am very pleased to welcome Ali as our new head women's basketball
coach," said Siena College President Fr. Kevin Mullen. "She has a great
track record as a recruiter and her teams have had consistent postseason
success. I'm confident that she'll do very well at Siena."
Previously Jaques also coached under McKeown at George Washington
from 2006-08. In her two seasons the Colonials went 55-11 and made
consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. George
Washington was nationally ranked in both major polls for the majority of
each season, and peaked to a No. 8 ranking in the AP Poll and No. 9
ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll on Feb. 5, 2007.
"It is with great excitement that I welcome Ali to the Siena
community," said Director of Athletics John D'Argenio. "Her experience
as a coach is diverse. She has helped build programs and has assisted in
leading nationally successful teams. Along with her coaching
credentials, she brings national championship experience to Siena from
her playing days at NYU. It only takes a few minutes in conversation
with her to recognize her passion for coaching and her drive to lead a
successful team both on and off the court."
Jaques has also served as an assistant coach at Dayton (2005-06),
Furman (2002-05), Sacred Heart (1999-02) and Rider (1998-99). While at
Dayton, Jaques coached under Jim Jabir who previously served as the head
coach at Siena from 1987-90.
Jaques is a 1998 graduate of New York University, where she
played both basketball and soccer and made the Dean's List all four
years. Jaques led the Violets to the 1997 Division III National
Championship, a 1996 Final Four appearance and two Sweet 16s. In her
four years, NYU posted a 101-15 (.871) record. A two-time Coach's Award
recipient, she was named a UAA Honorable Mention All-Association
selection during her senior season.
A native of Rosemont, N.J., Jaques comes from a very athletic
family. Her younger brother, Curtis, was a defenseman on the men's
lacrosse team at VMI and currently serves an assistant coach for the
Keydets. Her other brother, Parker, played football at the University of
Rochester. Her sister, Sidney, recently concluded her senior season on
the University of Scranton women's basketball team.
Jaques inherits a program which finished 12-17 overall in 2011-12
and tied for fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a
9-9 record.