SMITH RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH JMU SWIMMING AND DIVING

HARRISONBURG, Va., Aug. 20, 2009 ? James Madison women's swimming and diving head coach Samantha Smith has received a contract extension to remain as head coach through the 2013 season as announced Thursday by JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne.

Smith enters her fifth season solely in charge of the JMU swimming and diving program. She spent the 2004-05 season as co-head coach of the men's and women's teams before taking over the women's squad for the 2005-06 season.

JMU has posted consecutive 8-4 seasons under Smith with young squads each of the last two years. The 2007-08 team finished seventh in the CAA meet after a ninth-place showing the year before. The Dukes broke nine school records. In 2008-09, JMU improved even further to fifth in the league while shattering 14 school records.

The Dukes have also excelled academically, earning NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) recognition each of the last two seasons for performing in the top 10% of all NCAA Division I swimming programs.

Smith and the Dukes open the season Saturday, Oct. 17 in Washington, D.C. with a double-dual meet against VMI and Georgetown at 11 a.m.

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