The North Coast Athletic Conference Pam Smith Award commemorates the former Wittenberg women's basketball head coach and associate director of athletics who had a profound impact upon the athletes she coached and the students she taught over an illustrious career that spanned more than two decades.

Pam Smith was the architect of the women's basketball program with the most wins and highest winning percentage in NCAC history through 2007. A 1999 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee, Smith earned seven NCAC Coach of the Year awards and compiled a 401-170 record after taking the reins of a struggling program prior to the 1986-87 season. She led the Tigers to eight NCAA Division III tournament appearances, twelve 20-win seasons, and 11 NCAC regular season championships.

The NCAC Smith Award winner will also be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, one of the most prestigious honors the NCAA bestows. The award recognizes senior female sport student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership. Each NCAA conference, and independent institutions, can nominate one distinguished female sport student-athlete for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics meets in August to select the top 10 winners in each division. In September, the selection committee then evaluates the 30 honorees and choose the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA vote from among the top nine finalists to determine the Woman of the Year. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III are honored and the annual NCAA Woman of the Year winner is announced at a dinner in Indianapolis.
 

NCAC Pam Smith Award Winners	NCAA Woman of the Year Program	State Woman of the Year Winners
2025: Annabelle Calderon, DEN (release) 2024: Annalise Grammel, DPU (release) 2023: Veronica Hardman, OWU (release) 2022: Emmie Mirus, KEN (release) 2021: Megan Wong, DEN (release)	NCAA Woman of the Year Winner	Ohio Woman of the Year
2020: Sydney Kopp, DPU (release)	2003: Ashley Jo Rowatt, KEN	2005: Jill Boo, DEN
2019: Hannah Orbach-Mandel, KEN (release)		2004: Kayla Heising, WOO
2018: Julia Wilson KEN - (release)	National Finalists	2003: Ashley Jo Rowatt, KEN
2017: Ellie Crawford, KEN - (release)	2009: Tracy Menzel, KEN	2002: Katherine Dunne, WOO
2016: Haley Townsend, KEN - (release)	2004: Kayla Heising, WOO	2000: Aleashia Washington, WOO
2015: Maggie MacPhail, DPU - (release)	2003: Ashley Jo Rowatt, KEN	1999: Dawn Reinhardt, WIT
2014: Paige Gooch, DPU - (release)	1998: Heather Heitsenrether, WOO	1998: Heather Heitsenrether, WOO
2013: Leah Sack, KEN - (release)	1991: Rebecca Little, KEN	1993: Jennifer Carter, KEN
2012: Alisa Vereshchagin, KEN - (release)		1991: Rebecca Little, KEN
2011: Katie Navarre, DEN - (release)	National Semifinalist
2010: Sarah Shinn, OWU - (release)	2009: Tracy Menzel, KEN	Pennsylvania Woman of the Year
2009: Tracy Menzel, KEN - (release)		1998: Jennifer Erdos, ALL
2008: Erin Gorsich, DEN - (release)	Top-9 Finalist
	2019: Hannah Orbach-Mandel, KEN
	2017: Ellie Crawford, KEN
	2016: Haley Townsend, KEN
	2015: Maggie MacPhail, DPU
	Top-30 Honorees
	2019: Hannah Orbach-Mandel, KEN
	2018: Julia Wilson, KEN
	2017: Ellie Crawford, KEN
	2016: Haley Townsend, KEN
	2015: Maggie MacPhail, DPU
	2014: Paige Gooch, DPU
	2012: Alisa Vereschagin, KEN
	2011: Katie Navarre, DEN
	Alternate Nominees
	2025: Sydney Geboy, KEN 2023: Isabelle Hoover, WOO 2022: Giselle Bahena, HIR
	2020: Cirrus Robinson, OWU
	2013:  Daryl Ford, ALL