The Maryland softball program could not function properly without Alissa Smith. Coach Laura Watten's longtime assistant is an essential part of everything Watten does at Maryland, and she will again be key to the team's success during the 2009 season.
"Her biggest strength is in her recruiting and her ability to relate to the kids on all different levels," Watten said. "She dedicates every bit of her time to these kids. She's valuable because she's in tune with them in ways that others aren't. I think she has a natural gift for that."
Smith does a little bit of everything for the Terrapins, but her primary responsibilities include working with the infielders, recruiting and assisting with the organization and big-picture direction of the softball program. Smith's efforts helped enable the Terps to recruit 10 newcomers (six transfers and four freshmen) entering the 2009 campaign.
Thanks in a large part to Smith, Maryland welcomed three freshman and three transfers for the 2008 season to help offset a stellar graduating class. Freshman Kerry Hickey developed into a dual-threat both at the plate and on the mound for the Terps, while transfers Sarah Dooley (team-high 16 wins) and Breanna Shaw (12 extra-base hits) emerged as key contributors, as the team posted its third-highest win total in school history.
During 2007, Smith helped Watten recruit and incorporate five transfers into the Maryland lineup and mold those players into an effective offensive force. The Terps set new team records in stolen bases (98) and home runs (59). Smith's infield turned 22 double plays, and transfer Amber Jackson blossomed into one of the best players in the country at shortstop.
Prior to joining the Terps in September 2005, Smith spent six years as an assistant coach under Watten at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla. At B-CC, Smith helped lead the Wildcats to five straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships from 1999-2004 with corresponding NCAA regional appearances. In 2005, the team also won the NCAA Regional at Gainesville, Fla., and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. B-CC won 49 games and finished No. 18 in the final Top 25 poll of the season. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) awarded Bethune-Cookman the South Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2005.
"Alissa has absolutely been my closest friend ever," Watten said. "She knows me better than anybody, and and has been one of the key reasons I've been able to adjust, coming from Bethune-Cookman to here, because that was a huge step to make. She's been a big anchor to me emotionally, and she's extremely loyal and committed."
Smith's collegiate career began at Daytona Beach Community College, where she played her freshman and sophomore seasons, earning her team's Gold Glove Award her second year. Smith then transferred to Florida A&M University, where she played second base and shortstop and helped lead the Rattlers claim a MEAC title her senior season. Smith earned her team's defensive player of the year award that year.
Smith worked as a pharmacy technician in Orlando for two years before joining Bethune-Cookman's coaching staff as an assistant to Watten. She received her degree from Phoenix College in 2005.
An Oak Hill, Fla., native, she now lives in Annapolis, Md.
