Nancy Smith Binger

Nancy (Smith) Binger

Women's Basketball (1993-1997)/Administration (2001-2011)

A big part of the Judson University athletic history as both a player and administrator, Binger was the 1996-97 female athlete of the year and worked for the athletic department for 10 years. She made history as a part of the women's basketball team and as the director of athletics.

Playing in 115 career game, Binger was a NCCAA All-American and a member of the team that made Judson's first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Tournament (1995-96). In the all-time records, she is third in three-point percentage (.407) and fifth in three-point field goals made (122) and three-point field goals attempted (390). In four years of play, her teams went 69-48 and had the program's first-ever 20-win season in 1994-95 along with going to the program's first-ever post season tournament for the NCCAA. The 1994-95 and 1995-96 were the first teams to post back-to-back 20-win seasons. She also finished with 987 career points.

The 1996-97 year, her senior season, she led Judson to a 19-10 record while averaging 12.6 points per game as the team captain and most valuable player. She was voted onto the NCCAA All-American second team and was also NAIA and NCCAA All-District. The team most valuable player also had 45 steals with an average of 4.2 rebounds per game. She also put her name on the single season top 10 list for three-point field goals attempted (4th; 172) and three-point field goals made (6th; 58).

Her sophomore and junior years (1994-95, 1995-96) were history making years for the program. In 1994-95, Judson played in their first-ever post season tournament finishing seventh at the NCCAA National Tournament. That year, Binger earned the teams Coaches Award averaging 6.9 points per game. The following year, as the team captain, she helped her team to the programs first-ever NAIA National Tournament. As a freshman, she was given the Coaches Award.

In 10 years of service to the athletic department, Binger reshaped the look of athletics. She held posts of sports information director, associate athletic director, and director of athletics. In her first moves as the sports information director, she put together new historical information for all the sports and reorganized how Judson was being represented to the public. As an associate athletic director, she changed Judson's culture for the students by starting the Blue Crew, Judson Jackpot, Judson Olympics, and many other marketing items. Working four years as the director of athletics, Judson had some of their finest years in athletics. Binger saw 11 CCAC Championships won, hired 10 new coaches, overlooked the addition of 12 new sports, and was key in helping to bring the Chicago Bandits to the campus for three years. She also helped in the renovations of the softball field and tennis courts. In her tenure, three teams received votes in the NAIA National Poll for the first time and two teams played in their first-ever NAIA National or Regional Tournament. Three teams also won their first-ever CCAC Championships under her leadership also.

Awards

  • 1996-97 Judson Female Athlete of the Year
  • NCCAA All-American 2ndTeam (1996-97)
  • NAIA All-District (1996-97)
  • NCCAA All-District (1996-97)
  • Pat Pasko All-Tournament Team (1996-97)
  • 2-time Team Captain (1995-96, 1996-97)
  • 2-time Coaches Award (1993-94, 1994-95)
  • Team Most Valuable Player (1996-97)

Team Accomplishments

  • NAIA National Tournament – first-ever for the program (1995-96)
  • NCCAA National Tournament – first-ever for the program (1994-95)
  • NAIA Great Lakes Sectional Champion (1995-96)
  • 20-win season – first-ever for the program (1994-95)
  • Back-to-Back 20-Win Seasons – first-time ever (1994-95, 1995-96)

Judson All-Time Top 10

  • 3rdin 3-Point field goal percentage (.407)
  • 5thin 3-point field goals made (122)
  • 5thin 3-point field goals attempted (390)

Judson Single Season Top 10

  • 4thin 3-point field goals attempted (172) (1996-97)
  • 6thin 3-point field goals made (58) (1996-97)

Judson Athletic Department Accomplishments

  • Director of Athletics (2007-2011)
  • Associate Athletic Director (2005-2007)
  • Sports Information Director (2001-2005)
  • Organized the Sports Information Department with historical information
  • Re-organized the entire sports information department
  • Set up Blue Crew, Judson Jackpot, Judson Olympics (now defunct), and other marketing items
  • As A.D., added 12 new sports in three years
  • Was a part of bringing the Chicago Bandits to campus
  • Overlooked renovations to softball field and tennis courts
  • Hired 10 new coaches in four years to upgrade the athletic department
  • Women's Soccer, Softball, and Baseball all received votes in the NAIA National Poll for the first time in her tenure under the coaches she hired
  • Judson won 11 CCAC championships in her four years as A.D.
  • Men's Basketball made their first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance
  • Baseball played in their first-ever NAIA Regional Tournament (now defunct)
  • Women's Soccer, Men's Basketball, and Softball all won their first-ever CCAC Championships
  • Men's Soccer won the 2009 NCCAA National Championship