SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Athletics Department has announced the hiring of Vanese Barnes as Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach.
A Jay, Maine native, Vanese graduated from Spruce Mountain High School where she was a First Team All-Conference soccer selection for three consecutive seasons and earned Honorable Mention honors on the basketball court. She served as captain for both programs.
Barnes graduated from SMCC with an associate degree in May, 2017 and played two seasons (2016-17) as a member of the women’s basketball program. A tenacious guard, the two-year starter finished her SeaWolf career with 337 points, 136 rebounds, 72 assists, and 105 steals spanning 62 games. Barnes captained the team in her sophomore campaign and made back-to-back United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament appearances before transferring to the Saint Joseph’s College to play for Coach Mike McDevitt for the 2017-18 season.
Barnes continues to attend Saint Joseph’s and plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in May, 2019—she hopes to stay in Maine and work as a third grade teacher. In her first coaching appointment, Barnes will join Head Coach Katie Bergeron in her third year and long-time assistant Patrick Haviland in his 15th season.
Bergeron commented on her most recent hire, “I am beyond excited to have V back at The HUB and as an assistant coach this season. She was the best captain this program could ask for and was also an Academic All-American—making her the perfect role model for our team. Our players love and respect her and I know she will contribute greatly to our success this season.”
Barnes commented, “My biggest excitement is to be back in this competitive atmosphere, this time in different shoes. I’m thrilled to begin my coaching career alongside two amazing mentors who had taught me so much in a short amount of time. I hope to instill the knowledge I’ve developed as a player to work with our backcourt and help prepare our girls to succeed in the Yankee conference and beyond.”
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