In her eighth season as head coach of the University of Southern Maine Women’s Basketball program, Samantha (Allen) Norris has a long history with not only the tradition of great basketball in the State of Maine, but also with the long standing tradition of excellent women’s basketball at the University of Southern Maine.
Familiar to the Maine girls’ high school and women’s college basketball scene, Norris enjoyed tremendously successful careers at Lake Region High School and Colby College. A Miss Maine Basketball Finalist in 2006, Norris earned numerous conference and regional honors during her high school playing career, helping Lake Region to its first appearance in the State Championship game in 30 years in 2006. Norris was inducted into the Lake Region High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
With strong family ties to the University of Southern Maine, Norris is very familiar with the academic and athletic excellence found among its nearly 500 student-athletes, 22 intercollegiate programs and nearly 50 degrees of study on the Portland, Gorham and Lewiston-Auburn campuses. Norris' father, Phil, and step-mother Jill both attended the University of Southern Maine, while her mother, Lisa Chase, also an USM alumnae, was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame for her outstanding career as a member of the softball team.
In her six previous seasons with the Huskies, Norris has made her mark on campus, with the student-athlete community, and within her program. Norris has had 10 of her student-athletes recognized with post-season honors, including 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. In addition to Curley's numerous accolades, Alexa Srolovitz was named the 2018 LEC Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time a USM women's basketball player has earned the honor.
Eight of her student-athletes have earned All-Little East Conference honors, four have been named to the LEC All-Defensive team, and three have earned MWBCA and LEC All-Rookie Team honors. Most recently, forward Victoria Harris and guard Jackie Luckhardt each earned All-Little East Conference honors.
Academically, the Huskies’ women’s basketball team has been the standard bearer over the earning the Athletic Department’s Remo Riciputi Award (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021), which is presented annually to the team with the highest grade point average. During the 2021 William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete Awards banquet, 10 members of Norris’s team were individually honored for their outstanding abilities on and off of the court, including five-year recipient and all-conference guard Jackie Luckhardt. In 2021 and 2022, Huskies’ women’s basketball was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA) as part of the WBCA Top 25 All-Academic list.
In addition to her duties as head coach, Norris also serves as a lecturer for the NCAA Champs/Life Skills course and as the USM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor. For her excellence in these roles, Norris was tabbed as one of the 2017 President’s Award for Community Engagement. Presented annually to USM faculty and staff, the President’s Award for Community Engagement is given to members of the faculty who demonstrate an abiding commitment to incorporating community-based learning practices in their courses, and to staff who advance USM’s mutually beneficial relationships with community members and organizations, and construct student opportunities in the community.
As the SAAC advisor, and lecturer, Norris increased the depth and breadth of community-engagement and civic leadership in both disciplines, strengthening partnerships with Maine Special Olympics, USM Student Veterans Organizations, and University Counseling Services. Under her stewardship, the creation of the Huskies’ Unified Sports Program; the sponsorship, creation of an Active Bystander Training presentation; and a holiday charitable appeal with Husky Vets to benefit NFI North, Inc. (North American Family Institute) led to SAAC’s recognition by the University with its Contribution to Community Service Award for the second consecutive year. In 2019, under Norris's guidance USM's SAAC was honored by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) with its Josten's Community Service Award and in 2020, Norris received USM Outstanding Student Organization Advisor award.
With her growing success on and off the court, Norris has earned personal accolades as well. At the conclusion of the 2017-2018 season, Norris was named the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 - in its third year as an award's program, the WBCA's Thirty Under 30 Award is given to 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under in the sport across all levels (NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA) of the game. Each of the 30 recipients has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship, and impact on others, and professionalism. A year later in 2019, Norris was named to the Coach and Athletic Director Magazine Sports 40 Under 40 list.
Norris' commitment to service learning and community engagement also earned her recognition from the Maine Campus Compact with the 2018 Donald Harward Award for Faculty Service-Learning Excellence. One of three faculty members teaching in Maine to be presented with the award, it is given annually to faculty members who have made public service an integral part of his or her curriculum, use innovative teaching tools to engage students in civic learning, and have a demonstrated commitment to advocating for service-learning on campus and beyond.
BEFORE USM:
Following her successful high school playing career, Norris earned a scholarship to compete at Division II Southern New Hampshire University. A member of SNHU’s women’s basketball team from 2006-2008, Norris transferred to Colby College to close out her collegiate playing career. While at Colby (2008-2010), Norris served as one of the Mules’ captains. With Norris’s leadership, Colby set a single-season mark for wins during the 2009-10 season, posting a 24-5 record. Along the way, Colby earned its first ever national ranking and its first NCAA tournament bid.
Embarking on her career pursuit of collegiate coaching, Norris spent two seasons on the sidelines as an assistant coach with the Smith College Pioneers from 2010 through 2012 while obtaining her graduate degree. Following her time at Smith, Norris earned a position on the staff of the Division I University of Vermont Catamounts, working as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations from 2012 through 2014. Following her tenure with UVM, Norris spent one season as the Huskies’ assistant coach under legendary coach Gary Fifield before assuming her role as USM’s leader.
While with the Catamounts, Norris assisted in of a dynamic recruiting tactics that resulted in a pair of America East All-Rookie team selections, and she was a member of the coaching staff that helped UVM win its first America East playoff game in three seasons. Norris’s successful recruiting tactics took hold during her two seasons with the Smith College Pioneers. While in charge of the Pioneer’s recruiting program, Norris brought in and helped develop two NEWMAC Rookie of the Year selections, a pair of NEWBA All-Region student-athletes, a trio of all-conference athletes and one DIII Preseason All-American. During that time, Smith achieved several program firsts, including its first appearances in the NEWMAC finals and ECAC post-season appearance, and a then program-record for wins in a season (2011-12). As the Huskies’ assistant, Norris coordinated the recruiting efforts for all-rookie team selection and 2018 LEC Defensive Player of the Year alumna Alexa Srolovitz.
Norris earned her bachelor’s degree with academic distinction in Administrative Science from Colby College in 2010 and received her master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Studies in 2012 from Smith College.
Honors & Awards:
- 2020 USM Outstanding Student Organization Advisor
- 2019 USM Outstanding Student Organization Advisor
- 2019 USM Faculty Senate Award for Community Service
- 2019 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine Sports 40 Under 40
- 2018 WBCA 30 Under 30
- 2018 Donald Harward Award for Faculty Service Learning
- 2017 USM President's Award for Community Engagement
Education:
- MS in Exercise and Sport Studies, Smith College
- BA in Administrative Science, Colby College
Previous Coaching Experience:
2014-2015: University of Southern Maine (Assistant Coach)
2012-2014: University of Vermont (Director of Basketball Operations)
2010-2012: Smith College (Assistant Coach)
Playing Experience:
2008-2010: Colby College
2006-2008: Southern New Hampshire University
