Entering her fourth season as head coach, Trina Smith looks to continue her goal of taking the Raider volleyball program to the next level.

2007 saw Wright State tie for third in the Horizon League standings with Valparaiso and advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament. In 2006, the Raiders improved their win total by four and finished in a tie for second in the Horizon League standings, the highest finish by WSU since joining the conference 14 years ago.

In Smith's first season at the helm in 2005, Wright State nearly pulled off the unthinkable as, despite being the seventh seed in the Horizon League Tournament, the Raiders advanced all the way to the championship match, knocking off #6 seed Butler, #4 seed and host UIC and then #2 seed Cleveland State in the process. WSU was then just one win away from making the NCAA Tournament and battled Loyola down to the wire before falling to the Ramblers in five games in the finals.

Named the fifth head coach in program history on April 21, 2005, Smith came to WSU after an eight-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina, where she was involved with all aspects of the Gamecock program. Her duties included overseeing the team's academic progress, serving as the recruiting coordinator and coaching the middle blockers.

During her tenure there, the Gamecocks posted a record of 144-84 with five seasons of 20 wins or more and made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, three times advancing to the second round. Along with her duties at South Carolina, Smith also worked as a coach for the Irmo Juniors club program in 1999.

Before joining the South Carolina staff, Smith spent three seasons as an assistant coach at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. There she was responsible for recruiting, scheduling and preparing practice plans. She also served as the interim head coach for the Gaels in early 1996.

Prior to St. Mary's, Smith coached a year at Catalina High School in Arizona and coached Cactus Juniors, a club team in Tucson.

Smith graduated from the University of Arizona in 1994 with a degree in communications. A middle blocker, she lettered all four years for the Wildcats in volleyball and earned three letters as a small forward in basketball.

During her playing days at Arizona, Smith was selected to the Pacific 10 Conference's All-Freshman Team and finished her career ranked in the Wildcat top 10 in solo blocks, block assists and digs. In 2000, she was selected to the conference's All-Decade Team.

As a senior in 1993, Smith led Arizona to a final #16 ranking and an appearance in the NCAA West Regional finals as the Wildcats became the first Pac-10 team to ever defeat UCLA and Stanford in the same season. Arizona overall made two trips to the NCAA Tournament during Smith's career.

In 1990, Smith participated at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Minneapolis, taking home the silver.

A native of Maywood, Illinois, Smith attended Proviso East High School. She won MVP honors her senior year and was selected to the West Suburban and all-conference teams her junior and senior campaigns. She also played on the West Team at the 1990 Sport Festival, winning a silver medal. Smith also lettered in volleyball all four years and in softball and basketball three times.

Smith is a graduate of the Women's Coaching Academy and of the Sports Management Institute. She is active in the American Volleyball Coaches Association in the selection of the all-region team and in the top 25 coaches poll voting. Smith also was part of the selection committee in the hiring of Bob Grant as Wright State's new athletic director.

The daughter of S.L. and Alma Smith, Smith has three brothers and three sisters.


What They Are Saying About Trina Smith

"Trina Smith's ability to lead was clear the day I was hired at Arizona. She captained a team that was 10-14 her first year and then led us to the Sweet Sixteen the next. Her willingness to work hard and lead will be an advantage for her rebuilding the Wright State program." -- Dave Rubio, University of Arizona head coach

"What Trina Smith has done in her short time at Wright State is nothing short of remarkable. Her knowledge, work ethic and passion for the game will help Wright State compete for a league title every year." -- Kathy Gregory, UC Santa Barbara head coach