University of Arkansas - Fort Smith assistant women’s basketball coach Tiffany Swoffard was recently named the assistant women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Mercer University in Macon, Ga.
Swoffard, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., served as UA Fort Smith coach Louis Whorton’s assistant coach for three seasons. She will serve on the staff of new Mercer head coach Susie Gardner’s staff.
Gardner, who has been the head coach at Austin Peay University and the University of Arkansas, was hired last month as the 10th head coach in the 41-year history of the Bears program after serving as assistant coach at the University of Florida the past three seasons.
Swoffard will reunite with her former head coach, whom she played four seasons for at Austin Peay. The former guard helped the Lady Governors win consecutive Ohio Valley Conference tournament championships and earn consecutive NCAA national tournament appearances.
“You knew from the beginning that she was going to do well. She is very bright, personable young lady,” Whorton said. “She just fits the college game. She enjoys the recruiting process as well as the on-the-floor teaching. She is really good at all facets – handling personnel, administrative duties and recruiting – and excels in all of those.
“We wish her the best. When her former coach Susie Gardner came and talked to her, that was pretty hard to turn down if you are wanting to move into the Division I level. She’s going with a coach she knows and is comfortable with, and I think that is a good thing.”
During her three seasons at UA Fort Smith, Swoffard helped guide the Lady Lions to a 54-40 win-loss record, one NJCAA Bi-State Conference East Division championship, two NJCAA Region II tournament appearances, one Region II tournament championship and a third-place finish in the NJCAA national tournament. This past season, UA Fort Smith competed as a provisional member of NCAA Division II.
Swoffard, who holds a master’s degree in business, also was an instructor in UA Fort Smith’s College of Business.
“Just like all of the other assistants who have come through here over time, she is still a part of the Lady Lions family and always will be,” said Whorton, who will begin his 25th season as Lady Lions coach this fall.
