The 2016-17 season was the first at Vermont for assistant coach and former Villanova standout Caroline Coyer.
Coyer's first season in Burlington saw the Catamounts make tremendous strides both on and away from the hardwood. UVM opened the America East schedule with a splash, taking down Maine which had advanced to the previous two WNIT tournaments. Hanna Crymble collected America East All-Rookie Team honors and Sydney Smith was named to the league’s All-Academic Team. The Green and Gold also registered the top field goal percentage defense in America East (36.1 percent) and second-best defense from behind the arc (29.5 percent).
Originally from Oak Hill, Virginia, Coyer came to the Green Mountain State after a four-year playing career at Villanova. In addition to reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2013, she guided the Wildcats to three straight WNIT appearances (2014-16).
In May of 2015, she was named to the USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games roster, with the team capturing the silver medal after posting a 4-1 record.
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As a senior in 2015-16, Coyer led Villanova in points per game (14), assists per game (4.4), and steals (43), while also reaching double figures in scoring in 20 games.
She graduated in 2016 with a degree in management information systems.