FORT MYERS, Fla. – Former FGCU women's basketball student-athlete Sydnei McCaskill has been selected as the program's new video coordinator. She replaces Stephanie Haas, who departed to take an assistant coaching position with Ohio University.

"We are excited to have Sydnei be a part of our staff," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "She has a strong desire to learn and eventually become a great coach. I think she will do a great job as a video coordinator, and she will learn a lot about the game in the process."

McCaskill's selection extends what is now a three-year trend of the coaching staff being comprised of former Green and Blue student-athletes – all who played under the direction of Smesko.

The Orlando native started her playing career with the University of Georgia before transferring to FGCU at the mid-year point of the 2014-15 season. In 46 career games with the Eagles, she totaled 61 points, 26 rebounds, 56 assists and 15 steals in a reserve role off the bench. She was a member of the WNIT runner-up team in 2015-16 and the NCAA Tournament team the following year.

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join the FGCU coaching staff," McCaskill said. "I look forward to learning the day-by-day operations alongside one of the best head coaches in the business. During my two and a half years as a player, I got to learn how he runs his program, and I think that will be a valuable asset for my new position going forward. To be part of this coaching staff is an extreme blessing."

FGCU begins a new era in 2018-19 with the graduation of five key players, including four of the top five scorers from last year. The team, however, also returns three of its top seven scorers in Tytionia Adderly, Lisa Zderadicka (Vienna, Austria/HAK Korneuburg) and Nasrin Ulel (Murrietta, Calif./Murrietta HS), and the program has added Destiny Washington-Mabon (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) from Ball State as a graduate transfer to form a strong duo with Adderly (Jupiter, Fla./Cardinal Newman HS) in the post.

Four key additions will come in the form of players who practiced with the team last year, but weren't eligible due to Division-I transfer rules. The group includes a trio who averaged a combined 35 points per game in 2016-17: Keri Jewett-Giles (Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar HS), who averaged 7.8 points and 3.1 assists in her two years at Southern Miss; Kerstie Phills (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian), who averaged 13.1 points for Wagner en route to Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year recognition; and Davion Wingate (Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson), who led Stony Brook in scoring at 11.8 per game in 2016-17. Tyra Cox (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep), who signed with William & Mary but didn't compete in any games before transferring mid-year, also joins the fray with four full years of eligibility.

True freshmen Tanner Bryant (Washington Court House, Ohio/Miami Trace HS) and Ashley Panem (Broomfield, Colo./Fairview HS) will also compete for playing time, while Erna Normil (Lake Worth, Fla./Lake Worth HS) and Brittany Johnson (Pickerington North/Pickerington, Ohio) will transfer in from Florida Southwestern (FSW) and Quinnipiac University, respectively.

2018-19 Season Tickets Still Available For Purchase, More Desirable Seating Locations Will Have Limited Availability
 
Fans can purchase or learn more about season tickets by contacting an Alico Arena Ticket Office representative over the phone at 239-590-7145 or by visiting the office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additional information is available on FGCUTickets.com.
 
As an added incentive, new or returning season-ticket holders who purchase seats will be entered into a contest for an FGCU jersey autographed by either the women's or men's team.
 
Season ticket seat locations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Like in the past, Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.
 
YOUNG ALUMNI
FGCU recently announced a program in which young alumni – those who have graduated from FGCU within the past five years – can save between 30-70 percent off Priority Level 4 and 5 section season tickets, in addition to receiving discounted Eagles Club membership, which is needed for select premier seats inside Alico Arena. Those interested in taking advantage of this offer are asked to click here or visit FGCUAthletics.com/YoungAlumni to complete a form. Following that, an FGCU Ticket Office representative will be in contact to set up an account. For more information, call 239-590-7145, email tickets@fgcu.edu or visit the Alico Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko led the 2017-18 Eagles to another historic season. The Green and Blue finished 31-5 overall and 13-1 in ASUN play, capturing the program's eighth ASUN regular season championship and fifth ASUN tournament championship. The team finished the season ranked 25th in the final USA Today Coaches Poll, recaptured the NCAA record for most 3-point field goals made in a season with 431 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in seven seasons, where the Eagles knocked off 5th-seeded and No. 15 ranked Missouri in the opening round. It was the team's second tournament win over the past three appearances. Over the course of the season, FGCU knocked off three ranked teams - No. 15 Missouri, No. 20 Kentucky and No. 21 DePaul.

Over the past four seasons, Smesko has guided FGCU to three 30 plus win seasons while recording a 121-23 (.840) record overall. The now eight-time ASUN Coach of the Year rallied the 2016-17 team to its seventh straight 25-win campaign, culminating in an ASUN tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2015-16, he was named the espnW mid-major coach of the year following a run that witnessed the Eagles claim a WNIT runner-up finish and a Division-I program best ever 33-6 record. In 2014-15, the team achieved its first-ever top-25 ranking and made another trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the Eagles earned a No. 7 seed and won the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game, toppling No. 10 seed Oklahoma State.

Including the 2017-18 campaign, Smesko has guided the Eagles to 14-straight 20-win seasons and eight-straight 25-win seasons. He maintains a record of 496-114 (.813) overall in his career, including a 170-16 (.914) mark in ASUN play. Over the past seven seasons, he has guided FGCU to a 106-4 (.964) record in conference play with four undefeated seasons. Smesko earned his 400th career coaching win in 2014-15 in just 493 career games, two games faster than UConn's Geno Auriemma. Entering 2016-17, he ranked among an elite list of just four active Division I coaches with a career win percentage of .800 or higher, joining Auriemma, Baylor's Kim Mulkey and Stanford's Tara VanDerveer in the esteemed group. Over the past year, first-year NCAA Division-I head coaches Nancy Fahey (Illinois) and Bart Brooks (Belmont) pushed the list to six.

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the women's basketball program, follow @FGCU_WBB on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook at /FGCUWBB.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help.