Shenandoah University

Melissa (Kraft) Smeltzer-Kraft became the 11th head coach in SU women's basketball history with her appointment to the position in June 2014.

Smeltzer-Kraft, who graduated in 2007 from Drew (N.J.) University with a degree in history, originally came to Shenandoah in July 2013 to be the Hornets' lead assistant coach.

In 2019, Smeltzer-Kraft led the Hornets to their first-ever ODAC Championship, defeating Washington & Lee University, 63-53, in the championship game, becoming the first 8 seed to claim the title.

The Hornets returned to the ODAC Championship during the 2021-22 season and defeated Randolph-Macon, 56-43, to claim the program’s second conference title.

The 2021-22 season marked the beginning of a three-year stretch where Smeltzer-Kraft led Shenandoah to the conference championship game for three consecutive seasons. In 2023-24, SU gained its first at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets traveled to the Smith College pod and played Messiah University in the first round.

On January 11, 2023, Smeltzer-Kraft reached 100 career wins in a 79-42 ODAC victory at home against Virginia Wesleyan.

During the 2021-22 season, Shenandoah earned two major ODAC awards, with Sierra St. Cyr earning Player of the Year and Olivia Weinel winning the conference’s Marjorie Berkley Award. Following the 2024-25 season, the Hornets claimed another major award with Terese Greene earning All-America honors by D3hoops.com, becoming the program’s first All-American since 2000.

Smeltzer-Kraft was inducted into the Drew (N.J.) University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. The Hornets’ head coach was a two-sport athlete at Drew, playing basketball and softball during her time with the Rangers.

Smeltzer-Kraft, and her wife, Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft, were married in July 2014. Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft is the Hornets head field hockey coach and associate athletic director The couple are parents of two sons, Welles and Warner.