For the next step on her career path, Sam Quigley Smith didn’t have to look very far.
Quigley Smith is leaving her job as women’s basketball coach at St. Francis to take the same position at Lewis, less than six miles away.
“It’s a little different,” she said. “Not everybody goes to the crosstown rival. It wasn’t an easy decision the last couple weeks, but it’s great to be here at Lewis.”
Quigley Smith was introduced as the 13th coach in Lewis women’s basketball history at a Thursday press conference. She replaces Kristen Gillespie, who last month was named the coach at Illinois State.
For the former Joliet Catholic and DePaul star, the advantages of moving from an NAIA Division II program at St. Francis to a NCAA Division II program at Lewis were obvious.
“It’s a great opportunity to step up to this level and be a part of a program that’s been so successful,” she said. “At this level, you’re able to get a different kind of player, a borderline Division I player. We were trying to get those players at St. Francis, too, but I think you have a bit of an advantage with the NCAA tag.”
For Lewis athletic director John Planek, it was clear that the ideal candidate for the job was right in the Flyers’ backyard.
Quigley Smith went 101-62 in five years at St. Francis. Last year, she led the Saints to a 34-2 record and a semifinal berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
St. Francis topped Lewis 80-69 last season. The teams will meet again next season.
“We have an outstanding women’s basketball program,” Planek said. “We’re confident that coach Quigley can continue this outstanding tradition because of her fine record and abilities and excellent reputation.”
St. Francis athletic director Dave Laketa wished Quigley Smith well.
“We were glad to give Samantha her first head coaching opportunity and know she will do well for many years to come,” he said. “We are grateful to Samantha for the work that she did to turn our women’s basketball program into one of the top-caliber programs at the NAIA level.”
The last two Lewis coaches are now coaching at the Division I level, Gillespie at Illinois State and Lisa Carlsen at Northern Illinois.
That’s a fact that certainly isn’t lost on Quigley Smith.
“I’d be crazy to say that it wasn’t in the back of my head at some point,” she said. “Our family is established in this area and we’re not looking to go anywhere anytime soon, but it does speak volumes about the program. They’re producing coaches and creating success that’s leading coaches to the highest level.”
Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
