William Smith College presents Title IX Trailblazers Pat Genovese, Aliceann Wilber & Sally Scatton

Collectively, Pat Genovese, Aliceann Wilber and Sally Scatton have more than a century of coaching experience, compiling more than 1,300 career wins, 21 conference championships, 55 NCAA tournament appearances, and four NCAA Division III Championships.

The trailblazing trio has served as teachers and mentors to generations of young women who have blossomed under their tutelage. Hundreds of Heron student-athletes have received conference, regional and national awards for the efforts on the field and in the classroom.

Their dedication and leadership has not gone unnoticed. Together, they have 16 Regional Coach of the Year awards and 10 National Coach of the Year awards. Pat, Aliceann, and Sally have been inducted into nine halls of fame, including the U.S. Lacrosse National Hall of Fame (Pat) and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame (Sally).

Pat began her career at William Smith in 1971, before the passage of Title IX. Through the years, she has worn nearly every conceivable hat, teaching classes, coaching a wide-range of sports, and fundraising for a department that had its hand in more areas (Dance, Physical Education & Athletics) than thousands of dollars in its budget in the early '70s.

Aliceann joined the school in 1980 when soccer was added as a varsity sport. The Herons took their lumps on the pitch in the early years, suffering four straight losing seasons, but in the 28 seasons since, William Smith has posted a winning percentage of .607 or higher.

Sally became a Heron in 1988 when Pat stepped down as field hockey coach to concentrate on lacrosse (She led both sports for 16 seasons). Four years later, Sally led William Smith to the first of three field hockey national championships.

The trio has been steadfast advocates for access and equality for women in athletics at William Smith, tirelessly working to level the playing field for Herons with their male counterparts. In the process, they have placed William Smith at the forefront of intercollegiate athletics.

Thousands of Herons remain committed and engaged with their alma mater due in no small part to the advocacy, influence and relationships they have with their coaches. Pat, Aliceann, and Sally have built a legacy of excellence—that includes the NCAA Division III coaching records for career wins in women's lacrosse (377) and women's soccer (443)—from the ground up, blazing a trail for future generations.

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[Tracy Stankavage]

Proud to be a Heron!

[Michael J Martin]

Wonderful video! Proud to be associated with this group...as a Hobart alumni with a sister who played Field Hockey, Basketball and Lacrosse, even I learned a ton from this video. I know Pat and rank her as one of the greatest of all time, in any sport, at any level!

[nancynowakrutherford]

I only wish title 9 and the opportunities women athletes have today were accessible to me when I was at William Smith. I hope the Herons know how lucky they are to have that chance, to play for these wonderful coaches, and to come away with a great education as well (which many college athletes don't get!)

[Amy Alvord]

I'm honored to have played for both Pat and Aliceann (and did a little happy dance to see my team's pic on her wall in the vid!) Little did I know how great they were or how lucky I was to play for them...as a HS coach myself, I now know how unbelievably challenging the work is, and appreciate them so much more. Being human it's hard to miss the rampant inequality that still exists, but I'm grateful to HWS for opening the door that lets me see the world's version is not the real one.

[veeleedee]

Awesome video. So proud of my coaches - Vida '91

[HLHProperties]

We have come a long way since I graduated from William Smith in 1950! Thanks to Title IX! Congratulations! Imogene Bruner Helm (Tucson, AZ)

[gslplucy]

As a former WS athlete on the crew team, it's great to see coaches from WS get great recognition.  Go Herons! WS'97

[Leslie Sofarelli]

Great tribute to some great coaches. I for one will never forget my four years with Aliceann...she has a way of influencing her athletes in many ways. Nicely done and I am proud to say I know all three coaches in this video....'88

[innerstrengthfit]

Fantastic video. It's nice to see Division III athletics having such a significant impact on women's athletics overall. Go Herons!!

[nymarks]

Lucia Wheeler - my high school English teacher in Penn Yan back in the 1970s - a classic strong WS woman!

[cqsallie]

I'm not only the aunt of a William Smith-Hobart alumna, but one who played a wicked game of soccer at goal. I'm also the product of a time when highschool basketball for women was half-court, when women weren't allowed to run in a track event that was longer than a quarter-mile, and when a woman could be arrested to "illegally" running in the Boston Marathon. We've come a long way, thanks to Title IX and the trail-blazers like Genovese, Wilber and Scatton. You go, girls!!!!