U A B
B A S K E T B A L L
Head Coach
SMITH Audra Smith Head Coach • Eighth Season Virginia, 1992
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The Smith File Date of Birth: January 23, 1970 Family: Husband, Anthony Oliver Children: Son, A.J. (12); Daughter, Adria (11) Alma Mater: Virginia, 1992 (Bachelor’s – Sociology) Coaching Experience
1994-96: Virginia Restricted Earnings Coach 1996-2004: Virginia Assistant Coach 2004-present: UAB Head Coach Playing Experience
1986-88: Baldwin HS, Milledgeville, Ga. • HM All-American, ’88 • Miss Georgia Basketball, ’88 • MVP of state tournament ’87, ’89-92 1989-92: Virginia • 3 Final Fours (’90, ’91, ’92) • Academic Honor Roll, ’92
n her seven seasons at the helm of the UAB women’s basketball program, Audra Smith has turned the Blazers into one of the top squads in Conference USA, while continuing to increase their national recognition. Smith’s past two years have been marked by strong finishes, including a Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) title in 2010-11 and a run to the Conference USA Championship finals in 2009-10. Coaching the 2010-11 squad to a 20-15 record, Smith posted the program’s first 20-win season in a decade. The Blazers won 11 of their final 15 games, including all four of their contests in the season-ending WBI. Making its second postseason tournament appearance under Smith, who also guided the program to a WNIT berth in 2006-07, UAB won its first three WBI contests on the road before coming home to defeat Cal State Baskersfield in the title game. Smith’s sharp-shooting guard Amanda Peterson became the all-time leading three-point shooter in the history of UAB basketball, men’s or women’s, capping her career with 319 treys, including a Conference USA single-season record 103 as a senior in 2010-11. The 2009-10 campaign produced a historic run at the C-USA Championship, as UAB became the first No. 6 seed to reach the title game. It marked just the second time in history and first time since 2000 the Blazers reached the championship game. Smith’s 2009-10 squad also featured some outstanding talent, as guard Jala Harris became the first C-USA player in history to earn Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year honors in the same season. Harris was the third Blazer to earn the league’s sixth player award during Smith’s tenure and first to earn the freshman accolade. In 2007-08, UAB garnered its second consecutive topthree finish in C-USA by placing third with an overall record of 14-16 and a league mark of 10-6. Also making notable highlights in 2007-08 was senior guard/forward Diamond Rogers. Rogers was a first-team all-conference honoree and was also a State Farm Coaches’ All-America regional finalist. The 2006-07 campaign served as the Blazers’ breakout season under Smith. The team posted an overall record of 19-13, including a second-place 12-4 mark in Conference USA. Not only did UAB record its best overall record in six
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seasons, but the Blazers’ 12 league wins were the most in school history since joining Conference USA in 1995. That year, UAB was selected to play in the postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), its first postseason appearance in six years. The Blazers earned a victory over Davidson in the first round before falling to Auburn in round two. Not only did UAB experience team success in ‘06-07, it also had multiple individuals recognized within the conference and nationally for their talent and success. The Blazers had a trio honored by C-USA, including Carmen Guzman as the league’s Player of the Year. Guzman, who was developed and polished under Smith and her staff, continued to rack up multiple conference and national honors, finishing her career as one of the finest players to ever wear a Blazers’ uniform. Guzman became just the second Blazer in school history to earn the C-USA Player of the Year award, while also being named a Kodak/WBCA All-America finalist and being invited to the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp. Smith’s second season (2005-06) ended with the Blazers producing an overall record of 14-14, a 7-9 record in C-