San Francisco State has named Natasha Smith head women’s basketball coach, Director of Athletics Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins announced on Tuesday.
“I am honored to announce Natasha Smith as our head women’s basketball coach,” said Schrieve-Hawkins. “Natasha ‘Tash’ is a veteran in Division II and CCAA coaching, and has a huge network of positive support in the basketball world and life. Her experience with success as a student-athlete and coach in the CSU system has her poised to lead our Gators to great heights. I am excited to work with Tash to support these young women in the program with their endeavors here at San Francisco State. Her enthusiasm, work ethic, and knowledge of athletics in higher education will be such a positive impact to our student-athletes and the entire department.”
Smith recently spent two years at the University of San Francisco, serving as the top assistant coach for Head Coach Molly Goodenbour.
“I’m incredibly thankful for everyone that has prepared me to lead my own program,” boasts Smith. “Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins is giving me a chance to make my dream a reality, and for that I am grateful and honored. I look forward to the challenge of creating a culture at San Francisco State that can leave an ever-lasting impact on all of our student-athletes, the athletic department, the University, and Bay Area.”
Before joining Coach Goodenbour’s staff on the Hilltop, Smith was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Oregon University where she helped the Raiders to a 33-2 record and an appearance in the NAIA Division II championship game. Southern Oregon won the Cascade Conference regular season and tournament championships and were the second-highest scoring team in NAIA Division II with an 86.2 point per game scoring mark. Smith worked closely with first team All-America Ashley Claussen and honorable mention All-America Carly Meister and headed up the Raiders’ defense which ranked No. 2 in the country in steals, sixth in rebounding and 18th in blocked shots. She also directed the academic supervision of the team which produced eight players who earned academic all-conference honors.
Prior to her appointment at Southern Oregon, Smith served as an assistant at Cal State-Dominguez Hills for two seasons (2013-15). She helped the Toros compile a 46-17 record in her two seasons on the Carson campus, which included the 2015 CCAA regular season and conference tournament championships along with berths into the 2014 and ’15 NCAA Division II Championship tournament.
Smith began her coaching career at her alma mater Chico State where she served as an assistant coach for the 2012-13 season. That season the Wildcats reached the CCAA Tournament Championships and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Championship.
A 2013 graduate of Cal State-Chico, Smith was a four-year standout on the basketball team and ended her career as the school’s all-time leader in games played. She also ranked sixth all-time in scoring, third in assists, fourth in free throws made, fifth in steals and ninth in three-pointers made.
A native of Sacramento, Smith attended Sheldon High School where she was a two-time All-Delta League selection.
Tagged with: DII SF State
