July 2, 2007

Garden City, N.Y. - Paige Smith has been named the new head softball coach at Adelphi University as announced today by Director of Athletics Robert E. Hartwell. Smith replaces Joe Burbridge who served one year as head coach during the 2006-07 season.

"We are pleased to be able to bring to Adelphi a young, very talented softball person who has already gained a wealth of experience," Hartwell said. "We feel strongly that she's ready to take over a competitive program and maintain our high standards."

In addition to her head coaching duties, Smith will coordinate all summer camp programs in the new athletic facility slated to open in early 2008.

"I am honored to be associated with a school that has such an illustrious softball history which includes such names as Julie Bolduc, who pitched the first perfect game in the Division I College World Series and Olympian Dot Richardson," Smith said. "I have some big shoes to fill and I am excited about the opportunity."

Prior to Adelphi Smith spent one year 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 was formerly the assistant coach at her alma matter, North Idaho College, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. During her two-year tenure at North Idaho, Smith coached an infield that captured back-to-back Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) Best Fielding Team titles. 2006 was a big season for the Cardinals as the team won its first ever Region XVIII title and earned a berth to the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) College World Series. The squad spent the last four weeks of the season ranked nationally in the top-20 and had seven players named to the all-region team.

Before her time with North Idaho, Smith had a one-year stint at Louisburg College in Louisburg, N.C. As an assistant coach for the program, she worked with the infielders and served as the hitting coach. In 2003, Louisburg won the Region X Championship title.

During her playing days, Smith started at North Idaho before transferring to Campbell University following her sophomore season. While at North Idaho, she set the school record for most hits in a single game (5) and started every game at second base. Smith also 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. Smith is originally from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and currently resides in Oakdale, N.Y.