Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel has added Annie Smith as the Razorbacks’ new volunteer assistant coach.
Smith most recently spent two years as an assistant coach at Auburn, where she helped lead the program to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament. She left the Auburn staff earlier in the summer.
Smith replaces Arkansas alum Shana Easley in the volunteer assistant’s role in Fayetteville.
In a statement included in the Razorbacks’ press release announcing her hiring, Smith said, “I am very thankful for the opportunity to join Coach Deifel and her staff at the University of Arkansas. I am looking forward to calling Fayetteville home, continuing to coach in the SEC, while being closer to my parents. I cannot wait to get started. Wooo Pig!”
Prior to her tenure at Auburn, Smith spent six seasons as the head coach at Georgia Southern. During her tenure leading the Eagles’ program, Smith led the squad to a pair of conference championships and two appearances in the NCAA tournament. She was named the conference Coach of the Year twice during her time at Georgia Southern, in 2012 and ’14.
During her six seasons as a head coach, Smith owns a career 176-166 overall record. Her coaching resume also includes stints on staff at Mississippi State, LSU, and Missouri.
The Razorbacks finished the 2019 season with a 38-20 overall record, including a 12-12 mark against SEC opponents. The Hogs were eliminated in the first round of the SEC tournament and went 0-2 at the Stillwater Regional during the NCAA tournament.
