JACKSON, Tenn. - Union University head softball coach, Sydney Sturner, has announced that Mike Smith will be the next assistant softball coach for the Lady Bulldogs. Smith joins Union after spending the past four seasons at NCAA D1 California Baptist University.
Sturner said, "I am incredibly excited to have Coach Smith join our staff. His extensive resume, wealth of knowledge, and experience will be a huge addition to this program. It is amazing to see how the Lord provides and how He led Mike here. I'm eager to get started and see what the Lord has in store for us this year, as a staff, and for the young women of this program!
Smith said, "I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to be joining Union University, its athletics program, and the vibrant Jackson community. This opportunity is incredibly special, as it marks a new chapter in my coaching journey after 25 years in a head coaching role. I want to sincerely thank Coach Sydney for taking a chance on a seasoned coach like myself. I'm excited to support her in every facet of the program as we work together to build Union Softball into a Division II power that competes for championships year in and year out."
Smith finished his second stint at California Baptist as the program's all-time wins leader. In just four years, Smith led California Baptist to multiple WAC Tournament appearances. He took the team to the WAC Title game once and produced the program's first winning season as a D1 program.
Prior to his second stop at CBU, Smith spent five years, 2015-19, at Ole Miss in the SEC. While at Ole Miss, Smith led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, two Super Regional appearances, and three 40-win seasons.
From 2012-14, Smith was the head coach at McNeese State University. He completely turned the program around, winning two Southland Conference Championships in 2013 and 2014, and being named the league's Coach of the Year twice.
His first time as head coach of California Baptist was from 2004 to 2011, a period when CBU was a member of the NAIA. In his first eight years at CBU, Smith dominated with eight straight conference championships. He won the NAIA National Title in 2009, finished runner-up three times, third place twice, and fourth place nationally once. Smith's CBU team was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for 46 straight weeks, making the title game all four years during that stretch. Despite Union making numerous NAIA National Tournament appearances during this same time frame, Union and CBU softball never met.
Smith's head coaching career started at Biola University in 1999, where he coached for four seasons. He then spent one season as an interim head coach at UC Riverside in 2003.
In all, Smith's coaching career before joining Union included 25 years as head coach at five schools, including four Division 1 schools. He has a career record of 1050 wins to 445 losses (.703). Smith is one of only 25 active NCAA DI coaches to surpass the 1,000 career win milestone. He has earned coach of the year honors from three different conferences, including his staff earning the NFCA Staff of the Year once.
Smith is a graduate of The Master's College in California. Following a successful amateur baseball career, Smith played professionally as a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization and several independent leagues. He earned multiple Pitcher of the Year and MVP awards in pro baseball.
Smith added, "I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to President Dr. Dub Oliver and Athletics Director Mark Campbell for their trust and confidence in me. I look forward to working alongside them in fulfilling Union's mission, to be Excellence-Driven, Christ-Centered, People-Focused, and Future-Directed. It's a true blessing to help guide our student-athletes both on and off the field, and to be a Christ-like example in their lives. I cannot wait to get started. WE ARE UU!"
Smith and his wife, Ellen have been married for 32 years. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Ashlee, a California Area Director with Fellowship of Christian Athletics, and Tyler, an assistant softball coach at Western Oregon.
-UNION-
