Jessica Vanco was named the head coach of the St. Andrews Presbyterian College women’s basketball program in the summer of 2008.

Vanco enters her first season with Lady Knights in 2008/09 after spending the past four years as the head coach at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. During her tenure at Presbyterian, Vanco coached the Blue Hose to a 21-win season in 2005/06, earning the distinction of being the most improved women’s basketball team in Division II (out of more than 280 colleges). Vanco also has been instrumental in Presbyterian’s transition to NCAA Division I including the program’s first win against a D-I opponent.

Vanco was in charge of all areas of the PC women’s basketball program before becoming the new St. Andrews head coach. In addition to coaching the team at Presbyterian, Vanco has successfully recruited student-athletes, supervised coaches and managers, overseen all aspects of student-athlete academics, developed strength & conditioning program, and worked as a volunteer with the CHAMPS and Champions programs.

Vanco brings a total of 10 years of coaching experience to the SAPC women’s basketball program.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Presbyterian, Vanco spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Division I Furman University (Greenville, S.C.) and one season at both the United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.) and Salem International University (Salem, W.Va.).

In addition, Vanco also adds valuable coaching experience as a volunteer coach with the Boston University and La Selle College women’s basketball programs.

The Medina, Ohio, native graduated from St. Bonaventure University (St. Bonaventure, N.Y.) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1999. Vanco was a four-year letterwinner on the Bonnies women’s basketball team. She was the team’s most improved player as a junior and was a captain during her senior season. Vanco earned her Masters of Education with specialization in Counseling and Sports Psychology in 2000 from Boston University (Boston, Mass.). Vanco currently resides in Laurinburg.