Softball

Former United States Olympian Julie Smith is in her 11th season as head coach of the University of La Verne softball program in 2018.

Under Smith's leadership, the Leopards have won three SCIAC Regular Season Championships, three SCIAC Postseason Titles, made four appearances in the NCAA playoffs, and made nine SCIAC Postseason Tournament appearances.

La Verne began a streak of three-straight SCIAC Regular Season titles in 2015 when the Leopards went 25-3 in the SCIAC play, led by NFCA Second Team All-Region selections Mackenzie Dutton, Katherine Kibbe and Alexis Schiff. Kibbe was named the 2016 SCIAC Athlete of the Year after posting a 19-4 record with 106 and a 1.63 ERA in 146.1 innings. As a hitter, Kibbe hit .345 with three home runs, 21 RBI, and 16 runs scored. Smith and her staff were named the Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Leopards posted 20-8 conference record in 2017 and punched its first NCAA National Championship berth since 2010 by claiming the SCIAC Postseason Tournament championship. Schiff was named the 2017 SCIAC Athlete of the Year after leading the conference in nine offensive statistical categories.

In 2018, the Leopards finished 28-16 overall with a 21-7 conference mark and no. 1 seed in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. Pitcher Jiana Rojo earned SCIAC Newcomer of the Year honors and Smith and her staff were named the SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Leopards captured the inaugural SCIAC Tournament Championship in 2008 as the No. 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.

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.

Smith led La Verne to a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010 after the Leopards captured the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship. La Verne seeded third heading into the conference tourney, won four straight games to capture its second SCIAC Tournament crown in three seasons. 

During her time at La Verne, Smith has mentored:

• 2 All-Americans
• 16 All-West Region selections
• 3 SCIAC Player of the Year
• 36 First Team All-SCIAC selections

The Leopards have excelled off the field as well. La Verne has placed a total of 18 student-athletes on the Academic All-SCIAC Softball Teams from 2013-2017 and has had a total of 14 student-athletes named NFCA Scholar Athletes.

Smith has amassed over 20 years of coaching experience from the club level (all age groups), professional, and collegiate ranks. She has also mentored many student-athletes on the recruitment process. She currently serves as Board Member of Teamsmith. Teamsmith has 12 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) travel teams and three baseball teams operating in Texas. 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 decorated softball player at the collegiate, national, international, and professional levels, 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 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 Fresno State, 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 is a member of two Halls of Fame. She was inducted into Charter Oak High School's Hall of Fame in 2010 and in November 2013, Smith was selected to the City of Fresno Hall of Fame.

Smith also serves as Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director.