Release courtesy of Franklin & Marshall Athletic Communications
LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall Director of Athletics & Recreation Lauren Packer Webster has announced that Brianna Spector has been named the permanent head coach of the Diplomats' women's basketball program. Spector spent the 2021-22 season as the interim coach after previously serving as an assistant coach.
"During an extensive search that featured a diverse and talented pool of candidates, it became clear that the best candidate to lead our women's basketball program was already in place," stated Packer Webster. "Brianna has quickly become a trusted member of the F&M community, further enriching our team's tradition of academic excellence and service to others. On the court, she has a clear vision to increase our team's competitive excellence as we build upon the strong foundation that she has begun to foster."
The Diplomats achieved another double-digit win season this past year with a lineup that featured as many as four players in the starting lineup who were playing their first season of college basketball. Under Spector's leadership, Kenna Williams '22 was named to All-Centennial Conference honors, as the senior averaged a double-double on her way to being named the Centennial Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Williams' contributions helped F&M lead the Centennial Conference in offensive rebounds and blocked shots.
"I would like to thank Lauren Packer Webster, Shawn Carty, and the search committee for their continued trust in me to lead Franklin & Marshall women's basketball. Over the last year and a half, F&M has truly felt like home. I am excited to build on the foundation we laid this past year and lead this remarkable group of student-athletes, both on and off the court."
Demonstrating their success in the classroom, seven Diplomats were named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll as that total ranked among the best in the conference. The women's basketball team was also a leading campus partner in the local community, headlined by the team co-hosting a Book Drive as a part of the Centennial Conference's T.E.A.M. U.P. initiative before holding a reading day at local Burrowes Elementary School.
Spector initially came to F&M as the top assistant for the Diplomats during the 2020-21 academic year. During her time at F&M, Spector has had the chance to develop her leadership skills when she was selected to attend the 2021 NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy. The academy featured coaches from all NCAA Divisions with a focus on effective coaching at the intercollegiate level, emphasizing the holistic well-being of student-athletes. Spector's curriculum specifically focused on effective communication, building a culture of student-athlete success, and coaching strategies.
Prior to joining Franklin & Marshall's coaching staff, Spector spent two seasons as the graduate assistant coach at Salisbury University. In that position, her responsibilities included recruiting, scouting, and player development. She helped lead the Sea Gulls to the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) semifinals during both of her seasons with the program.
Spector began her collegiate coaching career at SUNY Oneonta during the 2017-18 season where she helped her alma mater to the SUNYAC Tournament Championship game. Spector graduated from SUNY Oneonta in 2017 where she was a two-year team captain. In addition to leading her team to four consecutive conference tournament appearances, Spector served three years as a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) before joining the executive board as a senior.
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education, concentrating in liberal arts, before earning her master's of education at Salisbury. Upon the conclusion of her playing career, Spector was selected to attend the 2017 "So You Want To Be A Coach" program which was sponsored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) during Final Four weekend.