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Annie Basic, Varsity Head Coach
After three years on the collegiate coaching level, the St. Xavier University graduate takes  over the helm at Marian for the 2005-06 campaign. She comes to the Spartans after two seasons as head coach at Illinois Institute of Technology, where she helped revive a struggling NAIA program.
Prior to IIT, Basic also served as an assistant at her alma mater, helping lead SXU to a 28-6 record and 11-1 CCAC mark. She also coached at the club level for six years, co-founding the Illinois Wolverines with Ron Newquist in 2001.
As a player, Basic began her career at Connor State Junior College in Warner, Okla., where she helped the Cowgirls to 52 wins, a pair of regional titles and two trips to the NJCAA Division I national tournament in two seasons. Basic then signed with SXU to complete her career and helped spark the Cougars to their first-ever conference crown in 2001.
Annie is the older sister of Mary Basic (Northern Illinois), a 2003 Marian graduate who helped lead the Spartans to second place in the IHSA Class AA tournament in 2002. Basic is currently pursuing a Masters of Education/Administration degree.
Kevin Kelly, Varsity Assistant Coach
Following two years in the Spartan men´s basketball program, the 1980 Marian graduate moved to the women´s program for the 2001-02 season. In his four seasons, the Spartans have posted a 115-17 record with three visits to the IHSA Class AA Elite Eight. The former Executive Sports Editor for Star Newspapers, Kelly has coached youth sports in the south suburban area for more than 30 years. As a coach in the Homewood Small Fry Basketball program, Kelly has helped lead the Vikings to more than 400 victories (the most in all of Small Fry) and International championships in 1985 and 2000.
The Public Relations Coordinator, Associate Athletic Director and Journalism teacher at Marian was also a head coach and varsity assistant for Marian softball. The softball Spartans compiled a then school-record 32 wins in his last year (2003) and had put together the best all-time three-year span (107 wins) during his tenure. A graduate of Marquette University, Kelly has also helped lead the Homewood Aurelio´s Saints women´s fastpitch team and Orland Park Sparks 18-under squad to Amateur Softball Association nationals 10 of the last 12 years. He is also an NCAA, IHSA and ASA softball umpire.
Stephanie Smith, Sophomore Head Coach
Also joining the Spartan staff from IIT as Basic's assistant coach, Smith recently completed an outstanding four-year playing career at Northern Illinois University. She has also had coaching stints with Team USA (Elgin) and the Wolverines.
The Huntley, Ill. native currently ranks sixth all-time on the NIU career three-point list with 83 treys. Smith appeared in all but five games for the Huskies during her four-year tenure in DeKalb.
Smith prepped at Hampshire High School where she averaged 19 points, 8.1 rebounds and 75 assists per contests en route to earning 2nd Team All-State honors as a senior. Smith was tabbed Class A Player of the Year by both the Daily Herald and the Courier News. Hampshire compiled an overall mark of 75-16 during her three-year varsity career.
Walt Shipman, Sophomore Assistant Coach
Walt, in his second season at Marian, comes from Rich Central High School, where he was the girls sophomore head coach and varsity assistant. Walt lettered in football, basketball and baseball in high school and later earned varsity letters while playing for the U.S. Naval Special Services unit.
Walt organized and served as first president of the Babe Ruth League in the Quad Cities, managed baseball 20 years in the Quad Cities and Homewood while serving on Homewood´s Board, served two terms as president of the H-F Booster Club and currently is the sponsor of the Homewood Small Fry Basketball program after coaching there for 15 years. He currently serves as Assistant Executive Director of the International Small Fry Board.
In 1984, after a successful career as a tax officer for a major Chicago based corporation, Walt founded and is currently the President and CEO of SMA Enterprises, Ltd., at tax software development firm. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, he has post-graduate work in taxation at the Universities of Iowa, DePaul and Oklahoma. Walt and his wife, Ruth, reside in Frankfort.
Mary Cain, Freshman Coach
Jayme Brown , Freshman Coach
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