University of Massachusets Athletics
Smith Joins Women's Basketball Staff as Director of Player Development
September 05, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Dayna Smith was named Director of Player Development after spending 22 years as the head coach at Cornell University
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball head coach Mike Leflar has named Dayna Smith as the program's director of player development. The University of Rhode Island Hall of Famer brings over 28 years of Division I coaching experience to Amherst.
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"Our program made great strides this off-season, and that trend continues by adding Dayna Smith to our coaching staff," stated Mike Leflar. "Dayna has been a close colleague for many years and her experience as a player and coach will impact our team and staff. Dayna was one of the best point guards in Atlantic-10 history, and I know she will bring that same intensity she played with to our program. We have a very experienced coaching staff, and Dayna's 20-plus seasons as Head and Assistant Coach only makes us better."
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Smith spent the last 22 years as the head women's basketball coach at Cornell University, becoming the winningest coach in program history. During her tenure at Cornell, she led the recruitment and development efforts of over 30 All-Ivy honorees in addition to the program's first-ever All-American.Â
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Smith coached six of Cornell's 15 1,000-point scorers, while her former players have set the school records in 10 career statistical categories. She also coached Cornell's single season record holders in eight categories.
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With its 7-6 record in non-conference games during the 2022-23 campaign, Cornell secured a winning non-conference record for the eighth time in the last ten seasons. The team recorded a winning non-conference slate for five-straight seasons from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the longest streak in program history. The 2016-17 squad also matched the school record for the most non-conference wins in program history (9), set twice before, both during Smith's tenure (2007-08, 2014-15).
Led the 2007-08 team to the most successful season in program history, as the Big Red closed out the year with a school record for wins (20), as well as setting records for most conference wins (11), points scored (1,889), 3-pointers made (200) and assists (436) in a season. After winning its first-ever Ivy League title in 2007-08, Cornell earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
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Prior to her stint with the Big Red, Smith helping build the programs at Rhode Island and Penn for a combined six seasons. Her coaching career began immediately following her graduation, as she joined her alma mater as the third assistant. She was promoted the next spring, and a year later, became URI's primary assistant. Smith also held a three-month stint as interim head coach during her final season in Kingston. Her head coaching responsibility came at the age of 25, making her the youngest head coach ever at URI.
From there, Smith moved on to Penn, where she helped lead the program to the 2000-01 conference crown and a trip to the NCAA tournament, as well as a pair of regular season runner-up finishes.
In her three seasons at Penn, the Quakers posted a 52-31 overall record and a 31-11 Ivy League record, including an undefeated 14-0 conference slate in 2000-01. Smith was instrumental in recruiting one first-team All-Ivy and two all-rookie players in her short tenure and assisted in the development of two-time Ivy Player of the Year Diana Caramanico, the conference's all-time leading scorer (2,415 points).
Playing Career
One of the top point guards in Atlantic 10 history, Smith helped lead the Rams to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1996, capping a season where URI also captured its first A-10 East Division crown. A two-time first team all-conference pick, Smith was one of only 11 players in Division I history to score more than 1,000 points and record 750 assists. She rewrote the Rhode Island record book, graduating as the program's all-time assist and 3-point field goal leader. She finished second in the nation in assists as a sophomore and ranked fourth as a junior. She still ranks among the top 20 in the NCAA all-time in career assists per game average (17th, 7.14). Smith was inducted into the Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
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"Our program made great strides this off-season, and that trend continues by adding Dayna Smith to our coaching staff," stated Mike Leflar. "Dayna has been a close colleague for many years and her experience as a player and coach will impact our team and staff. Dayna was one of the best point guards in Atlantic-10 history, and I know she will bring that same intensity she played with to our program. We have a very experienced coaching staff, and Dayna's 20-plus seasons as Head and Assistant Coach only makes us better."
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Smith spent the last 22 years as the head women's basketball coach at Cornell University, becoming the winningest coach in program history. During her tenure at Cornell, she led the recruitment and development efforts of over 30 All-Ivy honorees in addition to the program's first-ever All-American.Â
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Smith coached six of Cornell's 15 1,000-point scorers, while her former players have set the school records in 10 career statistical categories. She also coached Cornell's single season record holders in eight categories.
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With its 7-6 record in non-conference games during the 2022-23 campaign, Cornell secured a winning non-conference record for the eighth time in the last ten seasons. The team recorded a winning non-conference slate for five-straight seasons from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the longest streak in program history. The 2016-17 squad also matched the school record for the most non-conference wins in program history (9), set twice before, both during Smith's tenure (2007-08, 2014-15).
Led the 2007-08 team to the most successful season in program history, as the Big Red closed out the year with a school record for wins (20), as well as setting records for most conference wins (11), points scored (1,889), 3-pointers made (200) and assists (436) in a season. After winning its first-ever Ivy League title in 2007-08, Cornell earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
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Prior to her stint with the Big Red, Smith helping build the programs at Rhode Island and Penn for a combined six seasons. Her coaching career began immediately following her graduation, as she joined her alma mater as the third assistant. She was promoted the next spring, and a year later, became URI's primary assistant. Smith also held a three-month stint as interim head coach during her final season in Kingston. Her head coaching responsibility came at the age of 25, making her the youngest head coach ever at URI.
From there, Smith moved on to Penn, where she helped lead the program to the 2000-01 conference crown and a trip to the NCAA tournament, as well as a pair of regular season runner-up finishes.
In her three seasons at Penn, the Quakers posted a 52-31 overall record and a 31-11 Ivy League record, including an undefeated 14-0 conference slate in 2000-01. Smith was instrumental in recruiting one first-team All-Ivy and two all-rookie players in her short tenure and assisted in the development of two-time Ivy Player of the Year Diana Caramanico, the conference's all-time leading scorer (2,415 points).
Playing Career
One of the top point guards in Atlantic 10 history, Smith helped lead the Rams to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1996, capping a season where URI also captured its first A-10 East Division crown. A two-time first team all-conference pick, Smith was one of only 11 players in Division I history to score more than 1,000 points and record 750 assists. She rewrote the Rhode Island record book, graduating as the program's all-time assist and 3-point field goal leader. She finished second in the nation in assists as a sophomore and ranked fourth as a junior. She still ranks among the top 20 in the NCAA all-time in career assists per game average (17th, 7.14). Smith was inducted into the Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
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