Paige Smith - Softball Coach - Seton Hall University Athletics

Paige Smith

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
paige.smith@shu.edu
Phone:
(973) 275-2408
Alma Mater:
Campbell '03

Phone: (973) 275-2408

Paige Smith completed her eight season as the head softball coach at Seton Hall University in 2020.

Smith made a profound impact on the program in her first year on the job as the Pirates qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2009 and captured eight conference victories, the program's highest BIG EAST win total since 2010. Additionally Seton Hall saw three student-athletes receive All-BIG EAST accolades, marking the first time since 2009 the Pirates landed any players on an All-Conference team and the most All-BIG EAST honorees for SHU since its historic 2005 campaign.

Smith raised the bar even higher in her third season, leading the Pirates to 25 wins and 10 conference victories in 2015. A postseason run at the BIG EAST Tournament led The Hall to the Tournament title game, a two-run affair seen on national television.

In addition to the team success in 2015, Smith mentored Alexis Walkden to become the first Pirate to win BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, as Walkden clubbed a single-season program record 23 home runs to also earn a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team nod. Walkden was joined by teammates Danielle DeStaso and Yasmin Harrell to give The Hall a trio of first team performers for the first time in program history. Walkden was also an NFCA All-Region selection as a freshman.

In the 2016 season, the Pirates got off to their best start in 12 years with an 8-2 record in the early going. The Pirates would fall just shy of a postseason berth but saw both Walkden and freshman Ragen Reddick earn All-Conference honors following the season.

The 2017 season saw Smith's tutelage of Walkden culminate in a BIG EAST Player of the Year nod, the first ever for a Pirate position player. The Pirates also notched marquee wins in the non-conference slate over ACC foes in Virginia and Virginia Tech. For the first time in program history, The Hall was able to host a home tournament during the non-conference and swept the field during the First Pirate Invitational at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.

In 2018, Smith saw second baseman Sara Foster earn Second Team All-BIG EAST honors while Walkden set program records for runs scored and walks in a stellar capper to her career.

Smith helped produce four All-BIG EAST selections in 2019 with a five more wins in conference than the year before. Included among the All-BIG EAST selections was first teamer, Hailey Arteaga, with Reganne Camp, Janae Barracato and Darby Pandoflo earning second team honors. The four selections match the most in program history, accomplished during the 2005 campaign.

Take one look at the numbers and it is immediately apparent where Smith's influence sparked a tremendous turnaround. In just one year Seton Hall saw its team batting average jump by 61 points, its slugging percentage increase by 95 points and team stolen bases more than double, jumping from 30 in 2012 to 74 in 2013.

In year two under Smith, Seton Hall saw three more players capture All-Conference honors, including a pair of first-team members in Jackie DiPietro and DeStaso. Infielder Maria DeLuca was named Second-Team All-BIG EAST.

Prior to taking over at Seton Hall Smith spent 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. 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 aided to 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.