Oct. 15, 2003
Columbia, S.C. – University of South Carolina associate head women’s soccer coach Jamie Smith will be honored on Friday night before the USC-Vanderbilt women’s soccer match with the AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year Award. Smith, who was promoted to associate head coach in April, is one of 500 assistant college coaches in all college sports across the nation to earn the award. Friday night’s match is set for 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium. This weekend represents the final home weekend of the season for the South Carolina women’s soccer team. Carolina is 8-5-2 on the year with a 1-2-1 record in the SEC.
“I’m very honored and privileged to receive this award,” said Jamie Smith. “It is as much a reflection on the South Carolina program as it is on me and I appreciate the recognition. I am excited for the future of South Carolina women’s soccer.”
Following last year’s season, Scholastic’s Coach & Athletic Director magazine assembled a 10-member panel of the top sports writers in the United States to select 500 men and women from all sanctioned sports for AFLAC’s Second Annual Award.
The past two years Smith was an assistant coach for the Gamecocks before being promoted to associate head coach in April 2003. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College in 1994. While at PC, Smith was a three-year starter for the Friars’ varsity team. Since graduating, he has served as assistant coach for three universities, including Brown where he held the position from 1999 to 2001.
“Jamie is very deserving of this award,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. “Being a husband-wife team, he does a lot more then most assistant coaches. He’s been honored by Carolina and the athletic department with the title of associate head coach and it is nice for him to be recognized from outside the program as well.”
At Brown, Smith’s responsibilities included evaluating and recruiting players, scouting of opponents, and developing playing strategies. In addition, Smith was responsible for all aspects of fund-raising efforts including the Brown Youth Futbol School of Excellence, Spring Break Camp, and Youth Indoor Tournament.
Smith further cultivated his coaching talents assisting for three years at Dartmouth College and as assistant and Interim Head Coach at Vermont.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Smith has held various positions with the Upper Valley Lightning Soccer Club in Hanover, N.H. from 1996 to 1998. The club is one of the largest in New Hampshire with over 2500 youth participants. Smith is also the Co-owner/Director of the World Class Soccer School in Shaftsbury, Vt., a youth summer day camp he established, developed and has operated from 1995 to the present.
Smith has a National, Advanced National and Goalkeeping License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Smith graduated as a double-major in marketing and management from Providence and holds a United States Soccer Federation B License.
