PAIGE SMITH Named Softball Coach
6/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Paige Smith has been named head softball coach at Seton Hall University, as announced by Director of Athletics Patrick Lyons this morning.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Paige to the Seton Hall family,” Lyons stated. “Her experience as a successful head coach as well as her passion and energy make this a great fit. We look forward to the future of Seton Hall softball under her guidance.”
Smith has spent the past five seasons at Division II Adelphi, compiling an overall record of 169-104-1 and leading the Panthers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity to be at Seton Hall and to lead the softball program,” said Smith. “The BIG EAST is such a fantastic conference and with the program at Seton Hall having such a rich history, I believe it’s a sleeping giant. The softball program at Seton Hall has the opportunity to do some exciting things in the years ahead.”
Smith burst onto the scene at Adelphi in 2008, setting a program record for wins (Division II), racking up a 41-21 record and guiding the Panthers to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Throughout her tenure, she kept Adelphi a perennial contender in the competitive Northeast 10 Conference. In 2012, Adelphi posted a 35-20-1 record and reached the NCAA Regional Semifinals.
Under her tutelage, Smith coached 29 All-Conference, 11 All-Region, four CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees, and a Daktronics All-American in Samantha Johnston.
Prior to Adelphi, Smith spent the 2007 season as the first assistant coach with the St. John's University softball program where she worked primarily with middle infield and outfield instruction, hitting instruction and all areas of recruiting. Smith worked extensively with Loren Anguiano, who currently plays professional softball with the Philadelphia Force.
Smith’s coaching career began in 2003 as an assistant at Louisburg College in North Carolina, where she helped the squad win a Region X Championship. She then moved on to her alma mater, North Idaho, in her hometown of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she aidedto a NJCAA College World Series berth in 2006.
During her playing days, Smith started at North Idaho before moving up to Campbell University following her sophomore season. While at North Idaho, she earned NJCAA Academic All-America and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar Athlete honors in 2000 and 2001.At Campbell, she started 100 out of 112 games and was voted team captain in 2003. Smith received Presidential and Intercollegiate Scholar honors from 2001-2002 and made the A-Sun All-Academic Team in 2002 and 2003. She also earned the Coaches Award in 2003.
Smith graduated from Campbell University in 2003 with a bachelor's of science in physical education. She later earned her masters of science in adult education and organizational learning from the University of Idaho in 2005.
