2008season - UMKC Athletics
2008season - UMKC Athletics
2008season - UMKC Athletics
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head coachMeredith Smith<br />
Meredith Smith is entering her second season as the head coach of the <strong>UMKC</strong><br />
Softball program. Smith was hired to lead the Kangaroos in July of 2006.<br />
In her debut season on the bench for the Kangaroos, Smith compiled a 4-46<br />
overall record, with a 1-16 record in conference play, as her already small squad<br />
suffered several injuries. After seeing her assistant coach bow out prior to the<br />
season, she found herself competing with just 12 healthy players in several contests<br />
on the 2007 campaign.<br />
Under her leadership, however, the team set a new school record for home runs<br />
in a season with 16, with Ashley Toft (7) and Jaci Schuyler (6) each besting the<br />
previous single-season record.<br />
Second season<br />
Tennessee, ‘04<br />
During the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Smith served as the Director of Softball Operations<br />
at Tennessee. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing, organizing<br />
and distributing recruiting materials, while also coordinating the team’s<br />
travel arrangements.<br />
In the 2006 season, Smith helped guide the Volunteers to the SEC Championship<br />
as well as the Women’s College World Series.<br />
Prior to being promoted as a member of the UT staff, Smith served as the team’s<br />
manager in 2004-05. She handled various administrative duties and oversaw<br />
the team’s inventory throughout the season. The Knoxville, Tenn., native has also<br />
been a camp instructor for the Volunteers since 2001.<br />
As a student-athlete, Smith played collegiately at Centre College in Danville, Ky.,<br />
in 2000. During that season, she tied an NCAA Division III record for most doubles<br />
in a single game with five and picked up all-conference honors and earned a<br />
league player of the week award. She then spent one<br />
semester at East Tennessee State before transferring<br />
to UT, where she was involved with the Pi Beta<br />
Phi honors society and was active with the Panhellenic<br />
Council.<br />
Smith graduated cum laude from Tennessee in 2004<br />
with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She<br />
also holds her master’s degree in sports psychology<br />
with a minor in sports management.<br />
6<br />
Head coach Meredith Smith is currently one of the youngest head coaches<br />
in all sports across the NCAA Divison I ranks. Just 25 years, 166 days old<br />
when she was appointed, Smith continues <strong>UMKC</strong>’s tradition of taking a<br />
chance on young coaches.
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