University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Basketball
Marsh, Samera
Samera Marsh
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- sameramarsh@umass.edu
Samera Marsh enters her second season as an assistant coach on the UMass women’s basketball staff after joining in April of 2023. The Bronx, New York, native, joined the Minutewomen after spending a year as an assistant coach at Manhattan for her second stint. Marsh brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to UMass after spending over 14 seasons as a collegiate coach.
UMass finished the 2023-24 regular season with a win over St. Bonaventure in the finale before following with a 54-49 win over La Salle to advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship second round. Lilly Taulelei earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors after starting 22-of-31 games in her freshman season while Stefanie Kulesza earned a spot on the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team after posting a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double against no. 23-ranked Washington State.
"Samera's enthusiasm for basketball and for her players was clear from our first conversation," added head coach Mike Leflar. "That enthusiasm, paired with her experiences coaching and recruiting in New York and New Jersey are a perfect combination. Samera will coordinate our recruiting efforts and those states will continue to be a big part of our footprint."
Marsh spent the 2021-22 season as Wagner College's lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. While with the Seahawks, she helped the team to a NEC Semifinals appearance and finished the season with 17 wins. She also coached an All-NEC First Team selection and additional All-Conference honorees.
Prior to Wagner, Marsh was the top assistant coach, and served as the interim head coach, in three seasons at Delaware State. As a member of the staff with the Lady Hornets, she was instrumental in recruiting the No. 1 ranked class in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), according to ESPNW/Collegiate Girls' Basketball Report. Serving the role as acting head coach, she led Delaware State to 61-53 home MEAC victory over Florida A&M.
Additionally, Marsh mentored the MEAC Player of the Year, the First Team BOXTOROW All-American and an All-MEAC Third Team honoree, while helping the team to its highest conference finish of 8-8 in twelve years in her second season with the Lady Hornets.
Marsh served as an assistant coach at LIU Brooklyn for two seasons. In her first season, she played a pivotal role in the Blackbirds' recruitment of an ESPN three-star and Hooptown GTA Fab 48 selection, and No. 47 ranked player, according to Next Sports Phenom Top-100. She also signed the NEC Rookie of the Year, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year, All-NEC Third and Rookie Team honoree in 2019.
Before her time at LIU Brooklyn, Marsh was an assistant coach for her first stint at Manhattan for the 2015-16 season. She helped recruit the No. 96 ranked point guard, according to ESPN.com, and was part of the of the staff that had the fourth-largest turnaround in the NCAA with 12-plus wins. Under her tutelage, she also saw the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year and three MAAC All-Academic Team selections.
Marsh spent five years at Monroe College, prior to Manhattan, serving as the lead assistant coach. During her tenure, the Mustangs garnered two National Division II Junior College (NJCAA) titles (2011, 2012) and four District Championships from 2012-15. Monroe also produced two national championship Most Valuable Players, four All-Americans, four Region XV Players of the Year, three NJCAA Top 40 All-Star honorees and an Academic All-American during her time. In all, 14 players signed with NCAA Division I programs.
Marsh started her coaching career at her alma mater, Saint Peter's University, as an assistant coach for two seasons. While there, she recruited an All-Ohio Division II First Team selection in her first year, as well as the No. 10 ranked ESPN Elite 25 High School Girls Basketball to the university.
Marsh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2008 from Saint Peter's and is currently working on her Master of Science in Sport Administration from Delaware State. At Saint Peter's, she was the manager for the women's basketball team as an undergraduate before being elevated to assistant coach.
UMass finished the 2023-24 regular season with a win over St. Bonaventure in the finale before following with a 54-49 win over La Salle to advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship second round. Lilly Taulelei earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors after starting 22-of-31 games in her freshman season while Stefanie Kulesza earned a spot on the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team after posting a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double against no. 23-ranked Washington State.
"Samera's enthusiasm for basketball and for her players was clear from our first conversation," added head coach Mike Leflar. "That enthusiasm, paired with her experiences coaching and recruiting in New York and New Jersey are a perfect combination. Samera will coordinate our recruiting efforts and those states will continue to be a big part of our footprint."
Marsh spent the 2021-22 season as Wagner College's lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. While with the Seahawks, she helped the team to a NEC Semifinals appearance and finished the season with 17 wins. She also coached an All-NEC First Team selection and additional All-Conference honorees.
Prior to Wagner, Marsh was the top assistant coach, and served as the interim head coach, in three seasons at Delaware State. As a member of the staff with the Lady Hornets, she was instrumental in recruiting the No. 1 ranked class in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), according to ESPNW/Collegiate Girls' Basketball Report. Serving the role as acting head coach, she led Delaware State to 61-53 home MEAC victory over Florida A&M.
Additionally, Marsh mentored the MEAC Player of the Year, the First Team BOXTOROW All-American and an All-MEAC Third Team honoree, while helping the team to its highest conference finish of 8-8 in twelve years in her second season with the Lady Hornets.
Marsh served as an assistant coach at LIU Brooklyn for two seasons. In her first season, she played a pivotal role in the Blackbirds' recruitment of an ESPN three-star and Hooptown GTA Fab 48 selection, and No. 47 ranked player, according to Next Sports Phenom Top-100. She also signed the NEC Rookie of the Year, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year, All-NEC Third and Rookie Team honoree in 2019.
Before her time at LIU Brooklyn, Marsh was an assistant coach for her first stint at Manhattan for the 2015-16 season. She helped recruit the No. 96 ranked point guard, according to ESPN.com, and was part of the of the staff that had the fourth-largest turnaround in the NCAA with 12-plus wins. Under her tutelage, she also saw the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year and three MAAC All-Academic Team selections.
Marsh spent five years at Monroe College, prior to Manhattan, serving as the lead assistant coach. During her tenure, the Mustangs garnered two National Division II Junior College (NJCAA) titles (2011, 2012) and four District Championships from 2012-15. Monroe also produced two national championship Most Valuable Players, four All-Americans, four Region XV Players of the Year, three NJCAA Top 40 All-Star honorees and an Academic All-American during her time. In all, 14 players signed with NCAA Division I programs.
Marsh started her coaching career at her alma mater, Saint Peter's University, as an assistant coach for two seasons. While there, she recruited an All-Ohio Division II First Team selection in her first year, as well as the No. 10 ranked ESPN Elite 25 High School Girls Basketball to the university.
Marsh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2008 from Saint Peter's and is currently working on her Master of Science in Sport Administration from Delaware State. At Saint Peter's, she was the manager for the women's basketball team as an undergraduate before being elevated to assistant coach.
UMass WBB | Highlights vs Stonehill | 03.20.25
Thursday, March 20
UMass WBB | Postgame Press Conference vs Stonehill | 03.20.25
Thursday, March 20
UMass WBB | Press Conference vs. URI | 2.23.25
Sunday, February 23
UMass Women's Basketball | Press Conference vs. Loyola Chicago | 2.19.25
Wednesday, February 19
