The Binghamton University women’s basketball program has announced the hiring of Chenel Harris-Smith as an assistant coach as well as its recruiting coordinator. She arrives from the University of Arkansas where she served as an assistant coach.
Prior to her arrival in Binghamton, Harris-Smith compiled five years of coaching experience at the Division I level. Most recently, she served as an assistant in the SEC under Jimmy Dykes at the University of Arkansas. There, she was responsible for recruiting as well as implementing the guard and post skill development. She also assisted in day to day responsibilities.
Familiar with the America East, Harris-Smith served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for two years at Stony Brook University. She was instrumental in the recruitment of the 2015 Rookie of the Year as well as an All-Rookie selection. At Stony Brook, Harris-Smith also served as the post position coach, developing three All-Conference selections.
Prior to her stop at Stony Brook, Harris-Smith spent two seasons as an assistant at Robert Morris University, where she helped lead the Colonials to their first NCAA Tournament bid in seven years in 2013-2014. She was responsible for the recruitment of three All-Rookie selections. Harris-Smith also oversaw community service, academics, and post development.
Heavily involved in the community, Harris-Smith established several service initiatives, including Step It Up, an anti-bullying program implemented to promote the importance of acceptance in elementary schools nationwide. She also started Hoops for Hope to raise money for breast cancer research through the Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
“I’m thrilled to add Chenel to our staff,” fourth-year head coach Linda Cimino said. “She brings a new energy and compliments our staff very well. Her familiarity with the America East and her contacts in the New York metro area will be a great asset to our program. This is an exciting hire for Binghamton women’s basketball.”
As an undergraduate, Harris started 88 of 120 games for Kent State during her four-year career. She tallied 901 points and 573 rebounds as a standout forward for the Golden Flashes, earning All Mid-American Conference honorable mention and All-Rookie honors.
At the completion of her undergraduate playing career, Harris-Smith interned at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). There, she organized The So You Want to Be a Coach Program, which is held in conjunction with the National WBCA Convention.
Professionally, Harris-Smith played for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team in 2011. She averaged 12.6 points and five rebounds per a game. She also ranked among the top three-point field goal and free throw percentage in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship for women.
Harris-Smith received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2010 from Kent State University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Athletic Leadership from Rider University.
Harris-Smith a native of Mississauga, Ontario is married to Sean Smith, who is an assistant coach at Rider University.
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