Colleen Smith, a 2014 All-American defender at Princeton, joined UC Davis women's lacrosse as the first of two assistant coach appointments under head coach Tee Ladouceur on Sept. 14, 2015.
Although Smith will be involved in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, her on-field emphasis is with the Aggie defenders. She enjoyed a stellar career at that position with the Tigers from 2011 to 2014, closing out her career with first-team All-Mid Atlantic Region and second-team All-America accolades from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association as a senior. Smith also was a finalist for the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award that year.
Princeton's renowned academic reputation also stands as a positive attribute for Smith, said Ladouceur. The Tigers have been selected as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad every year since 2003. Likewise, UC Davis holds its student-athletes to high academic standards, with seven women's lacrosse players earning academic all-conference honors last spring. The Aggies also made the Academic Honor Roll in 2015.
Smith played for a Tiger program that qualified for the NCAA postseason three times, highlighted by a 16-13 upset of No. 8 Penn State in her senior season. The Wilmette, Illinois then spent the 2014-15 year abroad with the Timperley Lacrosse Club of Manchester, England. UC Davis will be her first foray into collegiate coaching, although Smith has worked numerous camps and clinics during and since her Princeton career.
