GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine women's basketball head coach Samantha Norris will be one of several outstanding presenters participating in the Hardy G*rls Health Wom*n (HGHW) Ruckus Roundtable Women and Sports Conversation on Tuesday, October 19 via Zoom at 7PM.
HGHW is a Maine-based, research-driven nonprofit. Established in 2000, HGHW partners with girls and gender expansive youth to ignite curiosity, promote thinking critically, build coalitions, and challenge the status quo. HGHW is about changing the culture, not fixing the g*rl. HGHW works with 1,200+ girls and gender expansive youth annually through year-round, statewide programs.
I connected with Kelli at HGHW through a colleague of mine during an antiracism work group," said Norris. "After our discussions involving academics and athletics, she recommended me to Kelli for the HGHW Ruckus Roundtable on Women in Sports. It's always special when a group of women use their platform in sport to have an open and honest dialogue with the community. I feel honored to represent the University of Southern Maine, our women's basketball program and to be a part of this event."
Ruckus Roundtables are Zoom conversations designed to spark curiosity, encourage conversations, and promote ways to challenge the status quo. The conversations are designed for middle school and up, but all ages are welcome. One of five panelists, Norris will join Blair Braverman (Long-distance Dogsledder & Travel Writer), Nayeli Germosen (Mariposa Foundation & Varsity Basketball Player), Saige Purser (Nikan'usk Youth Engagement Division Manager at Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness), and Mackenzie Myatt (Mountain Biker and 2024 Olympic Hopeful). Interested parties can register the event by clicking here.
Norris is entering her seventh season as the head coach of the University of Southern Maine's women's basketball program. A 2018 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 30 Under 30 recipient and a 2019 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine Sports 40 Under 40 selection, Norris has coached recent graduate Kristen Curley, the 2018 New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA), D3hoops.com New England Region, Maine State Women's Basketball (MWBCA) and Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, as well as Alexa Srolovitz, the 2018 LEC Defensive Player of the Year. In Norris' tenure, Husky women's basketball players have earned 25 post-season citations from varying awards bodies, including the Little East Conference, Maine Women's Basketball Coaches' Association, New England Women's Basketball Coaches' Association, and D3hoops.com. .
In the classroom and in the community, Norris' student-athletes have achieved great success and earned the Athletic Department's Remo Riciputi Award consecutively in 2015, 2016, 2017 and in 2018, as the team with the highest grade point average in the department. Following the 2020-21 season, Norris' squad was presented with the prestigious WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches' Association) Academic Top 25 team honor, after combining for a remarkable 3.661 GPA.
Additionally, several of Norris' recent alumnae and current student-athletes have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community. Kim Howrigan '19 was named the University's Outstanding Student Leader, received the Athletic Department's Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award, and was nominated by the Athletic Department for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Morgan Eliasen '21 earned the University's Senior Husky Achievement Award prior to earning her degree in Nursing. And current players Jackie Luckhardt '21 and Victoria Harris '22 have also been recognized for their leadership qualities. Luckhardt earned the 2020 Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award, while Harris, the 2021 USM Emerging Student Leader Award recipient was also an honorable mention for the 2021 State of Maine John Lewis Youth Leadership Award.
An involved staff member on campus, Norris is the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor, and a lecturer for the NCAA Champs/Life Skills course. She earned the 2020 and 2019 USM Outstanding Student Organization Advisor awards, the 2019 USM Faculty Senate Award for Community Service, the 2018 Donald Harward Award for Faculty Service-Learning Excellence, and the 2017 President's Award for Community Engagement. The Donald Harward Award was an honor bestowed by the Maine Campus Compact in which Norris was one of three faculty members in Maine to receive the award that is presented annually.
