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Aliceann Wilber
The only soccer coach William Smith has ever known, Aliceann Wilber built the Herons from the ground up into one of the most successful and widely respected programs in the nation. Along the way, she has solidified her place among the legendary names of collegiate soccer coaches. Including the 1988 and 2013 national championships, Wilber's career record with the Herons stands at 626-142-66. She is the first woman in collegiate soccer history to earn 600 career wins, and her 626 wins put her in first place on the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer all-time list and second among coaches in all divisions of women's soccer.
Wilber was inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame in 2019. She was inducted to the Heron Hall of Honor in 2002 and the Brockport Hall of Fame in 2022.
In 2022, William Smith went 14-2-6 with a 6-0-3 mark in Liberty League play. The Herons captured their 15th consecutive regular season title. After earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, William Smith advanced to the
The Herons were 19-2-1 during the 2021 season with a perfect 9-0-0 record in Liberty League play. William Smith claimed its 14th consecutive conference regular season and tournament title. The Herons advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
In 2019, The Herons went 21-2-1 with a a perfect 9-0-0 record in Liberty League play. William Smith claimed its 13th consecutive conference regular season and tournament title. William Smith advanced to the national championship game. Wilber and her assistants were named the Liberty League and United Soccer Coaches East Region staff of the year.
In 2018, William posted a 17-3-1 overall record. The Herons advanced the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament. William Smith won the Liberty League regular season and tournament title for the 12th consecutive season.
In 2017, William Smith went 19-2-0 overall. The Herons advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. William Smith earned its 11th straight Liberty League regular season and tournament titles.
In 2016, the Herons posted a 21-1-0 overall record and ranked No. 5 in the final NSCAA poll. William Smith advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. The Herons were a perfect 8-0-0 in Liberty League play and captured their 10th straight conference regular season and tournament titles.
The Herons registered a 19-1-2 overall record in 2015, advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals. Wilber earned her 500th career win, a 1-0 victory over Rochester, on Sept. 20, 2015. Wilber was named the NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year.
In 2014, Wilber led the Herons to a 16-3-1 overall record and their eighth straight Liberty League regular and tournament titles. The Herons made their 25th appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship, advancing to the second round. Wilber and her staff were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the year for the fifth time in the last seven years.
In 2013, Wilber guided Herons to a 23-1-0 overall record and the program's second national championship. Wilber and her assistants were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year .
Wilber is a 28-year member of the NSCAA and in 2013 was elected to serve on the NSCAA Board of Directors as the Women's College Representative. She also serves as the Women's Division III All-America Chair and was previously the Division III Northwest All-Region Chair.
In 2012, Wilber guided William Smith to a 14-2-4 overall record and their sixth straight Liberty League title. The Herons advanced to the NCAA Championship for the 23rd time and advanced to the second round.
In 2011, Wilber led the Herons to a 20-1-1 overall record, setting a program record at the time for wins in a season. She guided William Smith to the national semifinals for the ninth time in program history and the third time in the last four years. Wilber was named the 2011 Regional Coach of the Year. It's the eighth time she has garnered the honor. Wilber's Herons broke William Smith records for shutouts in a season (19) and lowest goals against average (0.14), and tied the program mark for fewest goals allowed (3).
Wilber led William Smith to national semifinals for the eighth time in program history in 2010. The Herons logged an 18-3-3 overall record, becoming the sixth William Smith team to record a then program-high 18 wins. The Herons won their fourth consecutive Liberty League Championship. Wilber and her staff were selected Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the third straight season.
In 2009, Wilber led William Smith to its record 20th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Herons posted a 14-3-3 record, won their third consecutive Liberty League Championship, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2008, Wilber led William Smith to the national semifinals for the seventh time in program history. The Herons notched a 16-2-5 record, won the Liberty League title, and finished the year as the fourth-ranked team in the nation. Wilber and her staff earned NSCAA National Coach of the Year, NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, and Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Wilber's 2007 Herons captured the program’s first Liberty League Tournament Championship and earned their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance. William Smith finished the season with a 17-1-1 overall record and ranked sixth in the final coaches poll.
In 2003, Wilber received the NSCAA’s prestigious Bill Jeffrey Award for her outstanding achievement and longtime dedication to college soccer. She is the first woman to win the award. Wilber earned back-to-back NSCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year Awards in 1987 and 1988. After winning the same honor in 1991 and 2008, she remains one of three NCAA coaches (and the first woman) to win the award four times at any level. Wilber was honored again in 1993, 1995, 1999, 2008, 2011 and 2015 as the NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year. She also won four consecutive NYSWCAA Coach of the Year Awards between 1999 and 2002. In 2007, Wilber was honored again by the NYSWCAA, this time with a Service Award for her meritorious commitment to women in intercollegiate athletics.
An exceptional mentor, Wilber has coached 28 Division III first-team All-Americans. In fact, William Smith is one of only 11 Division III schools to have two players named first-team All-Americans in the same season. Just three schools have accomplished the feat more than once, while only the Herons have had two first-team All-Americans in five different seasons (1988, 1991, 2001, 2015, 2016). In 2002, goalie Leah Cornwell ’03 became the first Heron to be named NSCAA Player of the Year.
Since the NCAA instituted regional tournament play in 1993, William Smith has won six Northeast Region Championships (1993, ’95, ’97, 2000, ’01, ’02), and advanced to the championship round in 1987, ’88, ’93, ’95, ’97, 2002, 2013 and 2019
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