Katie Smith enters her fifth season in 2020 as a member of the CPP women's soccer coaching staff under head coach Jay Mason, and her first season as the Associate Head Coach, elevating from her previous role as the team's Assistant Coach from 2016 to 2019.
Smith is responsible for on-field and off-field development for players and the team. On the field, her primary responsibility is the defensive unit, individual player development, and the team's GPS tracking system, TITAN. Off the field, she focuses on student-athlete academics and being a female role model to her student-athletes.
In 2019, the Broncos went 13-5-3 overall making a run at the CCAA Tournament, NCAA Tournament, and earning a No. 4 seed in the West Region. The Broncos had one of the best seasons yet, going 8-1-3 in the CCAA. Nine (9) Broncos earned All-CCAA awards, matching the program record and three Broncos were named on the 2019 D2 CCA All-West Region team. The team also posted a 0.55 goals against average for the year, which was a new program record. The Broncos women’s coaching staff was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Division II West Region Staff of the Year for 2019.
In 2018, the Broncos had two student-athletes named to the All-CCAA Team and 16 student-athletes named to the CCAA All-Academic Team, highest in the department. The Broncos posted a 3.29 team GPA and senior women’s soccer player, Natalie Di Angelo, was named SAAC President.
During the 2017 season, the Broncos went 10-6-2 earning a berth to the CCAA Tournament. Three Broncos were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Team and three Broncos were named to the All-CCAA Team.
In Smith’s inaugural 2016 season with the Broncos, CPP earned a spot in the CCAA Tournament and finished at No. 7 in the West Region. That year, five Broncos were named to the All-CCAA Team.
Off the field, Smith monitors the Broncos team academics. In Fall 2019, the team earned a 3.12 team GPA, and then in Spring 2020 achieved a school record of a 3.58 overall team GPA for a semester. Smith has been able to create and implement individual and specific academic plans for each student-athlete that is tailored to their learning style.
Smith is also a graduate of the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy Class #42.
Prior to CPP, Smith served as a graduate assistant coach at Cal State Bakersfield, where she completed a Master’s Degree in sociology. Smith was hired by Gary Curneen after returning home from her professional soccer career in Europe.
Before accepting the position at Bakersfield, Smith spent four years playing at the highest levels in Europe. She played in the Icelandic Urvalsdeild League, the French Feminine Division 1, and the German Bundesliga. Prior to playing in Europe, Smith played and graduated from Arizona State University. As a PAC-12 student-athlete in her senior season, the Sun Devils Women’s Soccer team was ranked #20 in the NCAA standings and attended the NCAA Division I Tournament. Smith is also recognized in the ASU Soccer Stadium for her successful professional soccer career, “Sun Devils in the Pros”. Smith also served as a club and high school coach before joining the Roadrunner staff.
A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Smith played for Laguna Hills Eclipse at a youth level under head coach Abner Rogers. At U18’s, Smith and her team Eclipse won a National Championship in 2005 at the Disney Worldwide Sports Complex.
Smith graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology and went on to earn her Master’s in sociology from Cal State Bakersfield in 2016.
