MONTICELLO – University of Arkansas at Monticello Director of Athletics Chris Ratcliff has announced the hiring of Kaci Bailey as the new women’s basketball graduate assistant coach.
 
The Dresden, Tenn. native comes to UAM after four years of playing experience at Southern Illinois University, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and the NCAA Division I.
 
“I am very fortunate to find someone of Kaci’s caliber so quickly,” said Ratcliff. “She has stepped right in and is already off and running… I am excited to add her to the UAM family.”
 
According to Ratcliff, Bailey’s primary responsibilities will be the coordination of the women’s basketball recruiting and conditioning programs, as well as on-court instruction.
 
In her four seasons at SIU, Bailey played in 101 games, including 24 starts at guard. She finished her career shooting 33 percent from the field (71-of-213), 35 percent from three-point range (62-of-178) and 70 percent from the free-throw line (37-of-53). She also collected 70 career rebounds, 65 of which were defensive.
 
Bailey saved her best scoring performance for her senior season, when she scored 20 points in a 69-68 win over Central Arkansas.
 
Prior to SIU, Bailey produced impressive numbers at Dresden High School in Tennessee, where she still ranks first all-time with 257 three-pointers made in her career. She also finished her prep career among the top three all-time leaders in free throw percentage (84.5 percent, 1st), scoring (1,482 points, 3rd) and assists (310, 3rd). In her senior season, she was a first team all-district, all-region and all-state selection, averaging 15 points per game.
 
Bailey is a 2005 graduate of Dresden High School and a 2009 graduate of Southern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in recreation with a double minor of business marketing and psychology.