JACKIE SMITH, CO-FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR

Jackie Smith and her wife, Kara, created Smith Basketball Academy in the spring of 2019 as a way to train youth athletes in individual and group settings. In 2022, they decided to expanded the business to include an AAU basketball program and developmental training opportunities. Smith also currently serves as the programs 10th grade coach.

Smith started her duties as the head women’s basketball coach at Connecticut College in August of 2018. She also serves as the department's scheduling coordinator and NCAA Representative for Diversity and Inclusion. She is now heading into her 13th year of collegiate coaching where she has spent the majority of her time being the head of recruiting for her basketball programs.

Prior to coming to Connecticut College, Smith was a Division I assistant under Jennifer Rizzotti, a Uconn women's basketball alum, and Hall of Fame inductee, at the George Washington University from 2016-2018. Jackie served as the program's  recruiting coordintor in addition to her assistant coaching role. More notably, she helped coach the team to winning the A-10 Champtionship (2018) and worked directly with the guards where she successfully developed two all-conference players, including the MVP of the 2018 A-10 Tournament. Prior to GW, Jackie also spent 3 years as Rizzotti's assistant at her alma mater, the University of Hartford.

Smith also spent time at the Division II level as an assistant coach at Stonehill College from 2011-2013.  

As a student-athlete, Smith was a four-year member and two-time team captain for Coach Rizzotti’s Hartford squads and was instrumental in the program’s success between 2007 and 2011. The Hawks won two America East Conference championships, made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and recorded a first-round victory over Syracuse in 2008. In addition, the team registered a combined 92-39 ledger, garnered its first-ever top-25 national ranking and climbed as high as 19th in the AP poll in 2010.

Bern Macca has over 29 years of coaching experience at every level of basketball from the youth level to the college level which include Division II and III. Macca also spent 5 years at The Williams School as the Athletic Director and Department Head of Physical Education and Health.

Macca coached basketball at Bloomsburg University, Elmira College, and Mitchell College. As a former two sport college athlete, Macca was also able to use her wide range of athletic experience to coach field hockey, tennis, and lacrosse at the college level.

Macca was a four year member of the basketball team at Connecticut College, where she scored over 1,000 points and had over 600 rebounds. She also was a goal keeper on the lacrosse team, and earned Regional All-American honors her senior year.

Macca is now a certified middle school teacher and lives in Waterford with her family. Macca is an assistant girls basketball coach at Waterford High School and also serves as the president of Waterford Recreational Basketball.