New Girls Basketball Coach named at SHS

Seneca High School Principal Cliff Roberts has announced that Ashlen Dewart has been named the new Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at Seneca High School. Coach Dewart will earn a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Converse College next month. She holds a B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Coach Dewart is completing her third year as an assistant basketball coach at Converse College. After graduating from Dorman High School, Coach Dewart played two years at Appalachian State University before transferring to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she played for Seneca High School Hall of Famer and former basketball player Nikki Blassingame West. Coach Dewart had a stellar collegiate playing career. She earned All Conference honors all four years in college. Her teams won four conference championships and one national championship. She was twice named the SOCON tournament MVP and was also named the MVP of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament. She was named the Female Athlete of the Year her senior year at UT-Chattanooga and was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame. Seneca High School Principal Cliff Roberts said, “We are very excited to welcome Coach Dewart to the Bobcat Family. We are very blessed that our search led us to such an outstanding candidate. The Lady Bobcats program deserves the best that we can give them and that is what has led us to Coach Dewart. It is rare to go into the college ranks and find an outstanding coach to come to the high school level. Coach Dewart has a basketball pedigree and educational background that is nothing short of excellence.” Seneca High School Athletic Director Coach Andy Bay said, “I am very excited to have Coach Dewart on our staff. Her youth and energy will bring a lot to our girls’ basketball program. Her playing experience will bring instant credibility with our student-athletes.” Nikki Blassingame West said “Seneca High School is hiring a winner today! I had the pleasure of coaching and mentoring Ashlen during her collegiate years where she won numerous championships and earned several player accolades. Not only is she a great player on the court, but she is an even better person off the court. Ashlen will be a great ambassador for SHS and without doubt the players, parents and fans will love her. I am thrilled that Ashlen will be joining the Bobcat Family and I look forward to the seeing the program soar under her leadership.”