Julie Smith
	Head Softball Coach jsmith2@laverne.edu (909) 593-3511, ext. 4850

Former U.S. Olympian Julie Smith is in her third season as head coach of the Leopard softball program.

Smith's 2009 squad reached both the SCIAC and NCAA Tournaments for the second consecutive year.  Among the victories during the '09 campaign included wins over Division III nationally-ranked teams Linfield and Wisconsin Eau Claire along with NAIA power Point Loma Nazarene. Under Smith, seven players earned All-SCIAC honors including Player of the Year Melissa Carlson, who also was named NFCA Second Team All-America.

Under Smith, the Leopards captured the inaugural SCIAC Tournament Championship in 2008 as the #4 seed to earn a spot in the NCAA West Regionals.  La Verne finished the season winning 12 of its final 15 games en route to a 28-19 overall mark.  Six players earned All-SCIAC honors in 2008.   The Leopards also led Division III in double plays per game.

A decorated softball player at the collegiate, national and international level, Smith was the starting second baseman on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team that captured the gold medal in Atlanta. She also was a member of two World Championship teams and three Pan American squads that earned gold medals.

Smith has amassed eight years of coaching experience from the club level to the professional ranks. She currently serves as president of Teamsmith, Inc., coaching three of its Amateur Softball Association (ASA) travel teams. She also spent the 2005 season as general manager and head coach of the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut franchise of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).

A native of Glendora, Smith graduated from Charter Oak High School and was a member of Texas A&M's 1987 NCAA national championship squad as a freshman. She also earned All-America honors that season before transferring to Fresno State. At FSU she would go on to earn All-America honors in 1990 and 1991 while helping the Bulldogs to an NCAA second-place finish in '90. Smith was named Fresno State's Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 and earned a spot on the NCAA 25th Anniversary Team in 2006.

Smith also serves as Assistant Athletic Director in charge of fundraising in the Leopard Athletic Department.