Boston College women’s basketball head coach Kate Popovec-Goss continues to shape her staff with the addition of Jahari Smith, who will serve as both an assistant coach and director of player development.
“I’m really excited to be here at Boston College,” said Smith. “It’s such a prestigious university with a strong tradition, and from the moment I got here, the community has been nothing but welcoming and supportive. I’m also really looking forward to working with Coach Pop and continuing to build something great here. There’s a lot of energy around this program, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it and get to work!”
Smith makes the move to the Heights after three seasons with Bradley Braves women’s basketball, where the program showed steady growth each year, culminating in a 20-win season last year. During her time with the Braves, Smith worked as the director of player development, playing a key role in scouting, film breakdown, player development, and the program’s day-to-day operations.
During that stretch, Bradley produced multiple All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, along with the program’s first-ever MVC Newcomer of the Year. The team also made its mark defensively, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense by allowing just 64.2 points per game. Opponents were held to 26.9% shooting from three-point range, a figure that ranked among the top 20 nationally.
Offensively, the Braves led the conference in three-point shooting at 34.6% and averaged eight made threes per game, second-best in the league. They also finished second in the MVC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.06.
Before beginning her coaching career, Smith was a standout player at Central Michigan from 2018-2023. She set a program record with a .581 career field goal percentage and started 122 consecutive games. A
consistent presence on both ends, she averaged a double-double during the 2021–22 season and earned Academic All-MAC honors.
Smith went on to play professionally in Mexico, where she helped lead her team to a championship while averaging a double-double in her rookie season. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology, along with a master’s degree in social administration with a focus on training and development.
https://bceagles.com/news/2026/4/21/womens-basketball-adds-jahari-smith-to-coaching-staff
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