Courtesy of Maine Athletic Public Relations
ORONO, Maine--University of Maine Director of Athletics
Blake James announced today that Deb Smith has been named head softball coach.
A former softball standout for the Black Bears from 1991-1994, she was named
America East Coach of the Year in 2002 and led Maine to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2004.
“I am thrilled to have Deb back in Maine leading our
softball program,” said James. “Deb understands the important role athletics
plays within our University and state, and embraces our vision of academic
achievement, athletic excellence and positive community representation. She has
experienced success as a student-athlete and as a head coach, and I am
confident that under her leadership, our softball program will once again be at
the top of the America East Conference both academically and athletically.”
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to come back
to the University of Maine where I was fortunate enough to be both a
student-athlete and coach,” said Smith. “I look forward to working with the
softball program, returning it to America East and regional prominence, and
most importantly, to working with such a promising group of young women.”
Smith comes to Maine from the University of Rhode Island,
where she served as head coach for the past three seasons. Last season, she
mentored senior pitcher Jill Anderson, who was named the 2008 Atlantic 10
Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the school.
Prior to Rhode Island, Smith served as head softball
coach of the Black Bears from August 1999 through June 2004. The 2004 squad
finished as America East Champions and competed in the NCAA Regional for the
first time since the 1994 season. Under Smith’s guidance, Maine advanced to the
America East Tournament in each season from 2002 through 2004.
Smith was named America East Coach of the Year in 2002,
marking the first time in league history that a former America East Player of
the Year was also honored with coach-of-the-year honors. The 2002 squad made
the America East Tournament for the first time in four seasons, and the Black
Bears brought home nine individual honors.
Smith also coached 2000 America East Player of the Year
Sara Jewett. Prior to serving as head coach, Smith was an assistant coach at
Maine for five seasons under Janet Anderson.
Smith excelled on the field and in the classroom at
Maine. She was named the North Atlantic Conference Co-Pitcher and Co-Player of
the Year in 1994. She was also selected as the North Atlantic Conference
Tournament Most Valuable Player that year after winning back-to-back games in
the final day of the competition as Maine advanced from the loser’s bracket to
winning the championship. The NCAA appearance for the softball team was the
first NCAA appearance for a women’s team in school history. Smith still holds
three school records, including most career doubles (39), most career innings
pitched (582.1) and most career victories (50).
Smith was named a 1994 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American
and received the 1994 M Club/Dean Smith Award as Maine’s top scholar-athlete.
In 2001, Smith was inducted in the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame.
A native of Munnsville, N.Y., Smith is a 1994 graduate of
the University of Maine with a B.S. in Health Fitness/Athletic Training with a
Science Concentration.