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Charmin Smith, a former Stanford assistant coach and standout player, became an assistant coach for the California women's basketball team during May of 2007. Smith, now in her third season with the Golden Bears, serves as the team's recruiting coordinator, oversees the growth of the Bears' guards and assists with all aspects of the program.
In Smith's first two seasons in Berkeley, Cal set a school record for wins in a season, finishing both years with 27-7 marks. The Bears also recorded their best-ever Pac-10 record (15-3) and showing (2nd), and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08 and the third round in 2008-09. Smith helped guard Alexis Gray-Lawson earn 2008-09 first team All-Pac-10 honors and an Associated Press All-American honorable mention. She also guided guard Natasha Vital to honorable mention all-conference and Pac-10 All-Defensive accolades in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Smith came to Cal after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons with the Cardinal and spending six years playing professionally. During Smith's tenure as an assistant at Stanford, the Cardinal posted an 87-16 (.845) record and made a pair of NCAA Elite Eight appearances. In addition to her duties with recruiting, scouting and player development, Smith was heavily involved in various community service activities, including a program to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
As a coach at Stanford, Smith played an integral role in the development of three of the Pac-10's top posts - Brooke Smith, Jayne Appel and Kristen Newlin - and in the spring of 2007, she switched her focus to working with the Cardinal guards, including three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year Candice Wiggins.
Smith was a star player for Stanford from 1993-97, helping the Cardinal to three NCAA Final Fours, as well as three Pac-10 titles. Following her playing career, she joined the professional ranks in the ABL from 1997-98 as a member of the Portland Power. She also played three years in the WNBA with the Seattle Storm and the Minnesota Lynx, and one year in the Swedish Basketball League. In May of 2008, Smith attended a 10-year reunion of the first Lynx team.
Smith began her coaching career in 2003 as an assistant coach at Boston College, helping the Eagles to one of their most successful seasons in school history. During her lone season, Boston College won its first Big East title and received a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Mideast Regional semifinals.
In addition to her on-court experiences, Smith worked for two seasons as a production assistant and editor with NBA Entertainment, where she aided in the production of several national NBA broadcasts.
A four-year letterwinner at Stanford, Smith earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in civil and environmental engineering from the school. The St. Louis, Mo., native was a two-time recipient of the Coaches' Award (1994, 1997) and was named the team's Most Improved Player in 1995.
College Coaching Experience 2003-04 Assistant Coach Boston College 2004-07 Assistant Coach Stanford 2007- Assistant Coach California
