Georgia Southern athletics director Sam Baker has named Annie Smith the program's new head softball coach.
    Smith comes to Georgia Southern following nine seasons at Mississippi State.
    “We are very fortunate to find an individual of Coach Smith’s experience level for our program,” said Baker. “With the growth of softball throughout the state of Georgia, we feel we are positioned well with Annie’s leadership to be a preeminent program.
    Smith has 15 years of experience as a collegiate assistant coach, serving at Missouri for six seasons before heading to Mississippi State for nine years, working with head coach Jay Miller at both schools. She handled hitting instruction and served as recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2006.
    “I want to thank Sam Baker and Cathy Beene for the opportunity to join the Eagle softball program,” said Smith. “I am excited and humbled for the chance to build on the success of the team and look forward to working with this talented group of student-athletes”.
    Under the tutelage of Miller, Smith worked with seven NFCA All-Americans, a two-time SEC Player of the Year, two SEC Freshmen of the Year, 14 All-SEC selections, 31 NFCA All-Region honorees and three USA Softball National Team members.
    The student-athletes have succeeded off the field as well, earning 71 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete selections and a pair of CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic Athletes of the Year. As an assistant coach, Smith has reached the postseason nine times.
    In addition to her abilities as a softball coach, Smith is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
    She is also a board member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association since 2008, serving as the Assistant Coaches Representative and leader of the Assistant Coaches Caucus.

A three-year player at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, Smith received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology in 1995. While at Missouri, she completed her coursework for a Masters of Education degree in Health and Exercise Sciences with an emphasis in Sports Psychology in 2002 while maintaining a 3.85 cumulative GPA.