University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Add Annie Smith to Softball Coaching Staff
7/1/2022 3:00:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota softball head coach Piper Ritter announced the addition of Annie Smith to the coaching staff as an assistant Friday.
Smith brings more than 20 years of coaching knowledge and experience to campus and joins the Golden Gophers from Arkansas where she spent the previous three seasons. She was part of the 2021 Razorbacks staff that earned NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors after securing the program's first SEC regular season title with a 43-11 record, going 19-5 in SEC play.
"I am thrilled Annie has agreed to join our storied program," Ritter said. "Gopher softball values excellence, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service; all of which define the type of person and coach she is. I know Annie will become an immediate asset to the players and the staff. I look forward to watching the impact she has on our program and overall player development. Please help me welcome Annie Smith - the newest Gopher!"
Smith spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as an assistant coach at Auburn and was part of two, 40-plus win seasons and an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2018. She also made coaching stops in the SEC at LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri and boasts professional experience as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in 2017.
For six seasons between 2012-17, Smith served as the head coach at Georgia Southern where she compiled a 176-166 record and twice reached the NCAA Tournament (2012, 2013). She led the Eagles to Southern Conference regular season championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and two conference tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. For her efforts, Smith was honored as the conference's coach of the year in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, Smith guided Georgia Southern to a 44-22 overall record and a 22-2 mark in the SoCon, setting school records for most overall and conference wins in a season. She stands as the quickest coach in Georgia Southern history to 100 wins.
The Manhattan, Kan., native was a team captain at Grinnell College (Iowa) where she graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology. Smith later graduated with a Master of Education degree in Health and Exercise Sciences with an emphasis in Sports Psychology from Missouri in 2002.
Smith brings more than 20 years of coaching knowledge and experience to campus and joins the Golden Gophers from Arkansas where she spent the previous three seasons. She was part of the 2021 Razorbacks staff that earned NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors after securing the program's first SEC regular season title with a 43-11 record, going 19-5 in SEC play.
"I am thrilled Annie has agreed to join our storied program," Ritter said. "Gopher softball values excellence, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service; all of which define the type of person and coach she is. I know Annie will become an immediate asset to the players and the staff. I look forward to watching the impact she has on our program and overall player development. Please help me welcome Annie Smith - the newest Gopher!"
Smith spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as an assistant coach at Auburn and was part of two, 40-plus win seasons and an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2018. She also made coaching stops in the SEC at LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri and boasts professional experience as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in 2017.
For six seasons between 2012-17, Smith served as the head coach at Georgia Southern where she compiled a 176-166 record and twice reached the NCAA Tournament (2012, 2013). She led the Eagles to Southern Conference regular season championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and two conference tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. For her efforts, Smith was honored as the conference's coach of the year in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, Smith guided Georgia Southern to a 44-22 overall record and a 22-2 mark in the SoCon, setting school records for most overall and conference wins in a season. She stands as the quickest coach in Georgia Southern history to 100 wins.
The Manhattan, Kan., native was a team captain at Grinnell College (Iowa) where she graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology. Smith later graduated with a Master of Education degree in Health and Exercise Sciences with an emphasis in Sports Psychology from Missouri in 2002.
Minnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
Friday, May 02
Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
Gophers (8) - North Dakota (0) Highlights
Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26