Women's Basketball 8/28/2019 4:55:00 PM Nicholas Huenefeld (@niklaustradamus)

McCaskill promoted to director of basketball operations for @FGCU_WBB

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Sydnei McCaskill, who spent last year as the video coordinator for the FGCU women's basketball program, has been promoted to director of basketball operations for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

McCaskill replaces Mandi Pierce, who was promoted to assistant coach earlier this offseason. Thus, a search is currently underway for a new video coordinator.

"Sydnei did a very good job as our video coordinator last year and earned this promotion," FGCU head coach Karl Smesko said. "She is motivated to do well."

The Orlando native spent two plus seasons as a student-athlete with the Green and Blue from 2015-17 after transferring in from the University of Georgia. 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'm very thankful for the opportunity to continue my career alongside Coach Smesko and his staff," McCaskill said. "I learned so much in my role as video coordinator last year that will help carry over in my new role. I couldn't be more excited to work along some really talented people, and I look forward to contributing towards the team's success this year."

FGCU has just three dates remaining to fill on arguably its toughest non-conference slate in program history. As of now, they'll face at least four reigning NCAA Tournament teams that combined for a 111-28 record last year - Notre Dame (national runner-up), South Dakota State (Sweet 16), Princeton and UCF. They'll also square off against WNIT participants USF and Houston, while hosting two other Power 5 schools - Duke and LSU.

FGCU's Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 5 - @ Florida International
Nov. 13 - vs UCF
Nov. 17 - @ Princeton
Nov. 22 - vs Saint Francis (@ FSW)
Nov. 28 - vs Notre Dame (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Nov. 29 - vs South Florida (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Nov. 30 - vs South Dakota State (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Dec. 4 - @ Houston
Dec. 9 - vs Florida Memorial
Dec. 17 - vs Central Connecticut State
Dec. 19 - vs LSU
Dec. 29 - vs Duke

BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball encourages fans to become season ticket holders for the 2019-20 season. For more information, contact an FGCU Ticket Office representative by calling 239-590-7145, visiting Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by visiting the link below.

Join the 2019-20 Season Ticket Priority List

Seating locations for new ticket packages will depend on availability. Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.

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 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
Do you enjoy watching or following the FGCU women's basketball program? Would you like to play a role in the growth of the program and help take it to heights never before experienced? If so, you can reach out to Director of Advancement, Matt Ring, about opportunities to make an impact on the experiences of our student-athletes. He can be reached by email at mring@fgcu.edu or by office phone at 239-745-4434.

COACH SMESKO
FGCU head coach Karl Smesko led the 2018-19 Eagles to the program's fifth undefeated conference regular season since 2011-12, as well as the ninth consecutive season with at least 25 victories. The Green and Blue finished 28-5 overall and 16-0 in ASUN play, capturing the team's ninth ASUN regular season championship and sixth ASUN tournament championship. The team finished the season receiving votes in the final AP Poll and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons before falling to host No. 19 Miami in the first round. It was the team's 12th-straight postseason appearance in 12 years of Division-I existence – the only program to ever do such.

Over the past five seasons, Smesko has guided FGCU to three 30-plus win seasons while recording a 149-28 (.841) record overall. That win total ranks eighth-best in the nation over that stretch - the most among all mid-majors and ahead of programs such as Oregon State and Stanford.

Including 2018-19, Smesko has also guided the Eagles to 15-straight 20-win seasons. He maintains a record of 524-119 (.815) overall in his career (third highest winning percentage among active D1 coaches behind only UConn's Geno Auriemma and Baylor's Kim Mulkey), including a 186-16 (.921) mark in ASUN play. Over the past eight seasons (including 2018-19), he has guided FGCU to a 124-4 (.969) record in conference play with five undefeated seasons. The now nine-time ASUN Coach of the Year earned his 400th career coaching win in 2014-15 in just 493 career games, two games faster than Auriemma.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 raise awareness.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.

--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--

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