Xavier University Women's Soccer

Xavier womens soccer head coach Dean Ward announced the addition of Katie Smith as an assistant coach in February 2025. Smith came to Xavier from Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kansas, where she was a foundational piece to the creation of the womens soccer program. In the teams inaugural season, Smith helped lead the Gorillas to an overall record of 8-8-2. Smith has also served as head coach of the newly founded Marshall Islands Womens National Team since May 2024, with the team set to have its first fixture in 2025. Smith joined Pittsburg State from Arkansas State, where was an assistant coach for the Red Wolves in 2023. Prior to her time at Arkansas State, Smith served as an assistant coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College during the 2022 season, helping lead the program to a final four appearance at the NJCAA national tournament. In 2022, Smith also coached Collierville High School, with the team finishing the season ranked third in the state of Tennessee, and at the mens USL 2 level with Tri-Cities FC, helping lead the team to the most points in a single season in club history. Smith began her coaching career leading both the boys and girls varsity soccer programs at Fayette Academy in Tennessee. During her time at Fayette Academy, she led the girls varsity team to one of the most successful seasons in the programs history. Smith also coached Collierville Middle School boys soccer, leading the Dragons to regional and sectional championships and finishing the season with the best record in TSMAA history. During her coaching career, Smith has earned several awards, including back-to-back TSMAA Coach of the Year, United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year, United Soccer Coaches Youth Coach of Excellence Award, and was selected as a 2024-2025 United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 Class Member. As a student-athlete, Smith served as the inaugural captain at Southwest Tennessee Community College, where she helped lead the program to a TCCAA Conference Championship in the second year of the programs existence. She went on to Louisiana State University at Shreveport, where she was a dual-sport athlete, playing soccer and tennis. Smith earned a Bachelors Degree in Special Education from Freed-Hardeman University in May 2023 and graduated with a Masters Degree in Soccer Coaching Education from Ohio University in May 2024. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Global Sports Leadership from East Tennessee State University. Smith holds her UEFA C License, United Soccer Coaches Advanced National License, and currently pursuing her USSF B License. She is an active member of the soccer community and has been featured in many podcasts and articles and has presented at various educational workshops.