Hall of Fame
Pat Genovese is the only coach the William Smith lacrosse team has ever known. An assistant director of athletics, she has established the Herons as one of the top programs in the nation. In the past 11 seasons, Genovese has guided the Herons to 10 NYSWCAA titles as well as leading the team to the Division III semifinals nine times. William Smith returned to the Division III Tournament for the eight straight year in 1998. She has been named the Division III National Coach of the Year three times, Regional Coach of the Year twice, and State Coach of the Year twice. Three-time coach of the North/South all-star game, Genovese has guided the lacrosse program from its start as a club in the early 1970s to its present level of national prominence. The Herons have played in 19 straight State Tournaments winning 10 titles and the 1986 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Championship. Seventy-one Herons have received All-America honors under Genovese’s guidance. She has had four players earn the prestigious Player of the Year Award. Entering the 1999 season, her career record stood at 226-90. Genovese also coached the field hockey team from 1971-87, leading that squad to three state titles, a Division III regional title, and a trip to its first NCAA title game in 1987. She was inducted into the Cortland State “C”-Club Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Rochester/Western New York Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1998, Genovese received the NYSWCAA Service Award for her contributions to New York State women's athletics.
