GAINESVILLE — UF’s iconic volleyball coach Mary Smart, a 1,000-game winner and 25-time SEC champion, is retiring after 34 years in Gainesville, the college introduced.
Smart shared her plans together with her Thursday night, ending an period of unimaginable success.
The 65-year-old arrived in Gainesville in 1991 and led the Gators to NCAA Match each season, marking the third-longest streak in Division I historical past. Smart’s 1,068 complete wins are fourth most in her sport as she led Florida to eight Last Fours, together with two nationwide runner-up finishes.
“I look again on my profession with such gratitude for the assistant coaches, workers members, directors, and particularly the unimaginable ladies who mentioned sure to being a Gator,” Smart mentioned in an announcement. “There was by no means going to be a simple time to stroll away. However after 43 years within the area, the time to step away is now.
“Faculty volleyball has risen to a complete new degree with participation, attendance and TV publicity. I can not wait to see what’s subsequent for the game.”
Smart arrived after serving at Kentucky (1986-90) and by her second season (1992) coached Florida to the the Last 4 after the Gators beat Texas in 5 units.
A local of Evanston, Sick., Smart was a setter for Purdue who turned the youngest Division I coach ever in 1981 when she landed at Iowa State, the place she would coach till 1984.
Smart was 987-150 (.868) at UF and 1068-213 (.834) total.
“Mary Smart is an icon on the College of Florida, in faculty athletics and within the volleyball neighborhood,” UF athletic director Scott Stricklin mentioned in an announcement. “Mary’s 43-year journey within the occupation is a formidable parade of outstanding successes and accomplishments.”
Smart is one among two coaches to be acknowledged because the AVCA Division I Nationwide Coach of the 12 months thrice (1992, 1996, 2017), and was a 15-time SEC Coach of the 12 months.
A complete of 142 All-America honors had been earned by 49 Gators. Rhamat Alhassan was named the 2017 Honda Award winner because the nation’s high collegiate participant.
Beneath Smart’s teaching, 13 Gators claimed a mixed 19 SEC Participant of the 12 months honors, led by three-time winner Aury Cruz (2001, ’02, ‘03). Seven Gators had been named SEC Freshman of the 12 months.
Smart’s teaching tree is strong. Greater than 30 of her student-athletes and workers have gone on to teach collegiate volleyball.
Edgar Thompson might be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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