Samantha Smith has been promoted to head coach of the James Madison University women’s swimming program, the school announced today. Smith, a JMU graduate and former swimmer for the Dukes, spent the past season as the program’s co-head coach, working with both the men’s and women’s teams.

The past year, the Dukes women’s team placed fifth among 10 teams in the CAA Championship meet. The program was under the guidance of Matt Barany, who resigned his post as the director of JMU’s swimming and diving programs earlier this month to become the head women’s swimming coach at the University of Richmond. Smith will take over the women’s team in preparation for next season and a search is underway to hire a head coach for men’s swimming program.

A native of Hershey, Pa., Smith began her coaching career at Colonial Athletic Association rival William and Mary as an assistant. She gained additional coaching experience at the Summerset Olde Creek Recreation center in Fairfax, Va. and with the Hershey Aquatic Club in her hometown.

As a collegiate swimmer, Smith won the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke races in school-record times during the 2001 CAA Championship meet in Fairfax. Her 100-yard time was one minute and 3.94 seconds, and her time in the 200-yard race was 2:19.40. She was also the breaststroke member of the champion 200-yard medley relay, which set a school record in 1:46.74, and was a member of the co-champion and school-record 400-yard medley relay (3:52.32). Entering the 2004-05 season, Smith’s name still appears on the JMU record board in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events and as a member of the 200 and 400 medley relays.

Smith graduated from JMU in 2001 with a bachelor’s of science degree in media arts and design and completed a bachelor’s of science degree in studio art in 2002. She is one of three members of her family to have spent their collegiate swimming careers with the Dukes. Her older sister, Shawnee, and younger brother, Robert, also swam at JMU.