Audra Smith Position: Head Coach Experience: Sixth Season

In just five seasons at the helm of the UAB women's basketball program, Audra Smith has turned the Blazers around and into one of the top squads in Conference USA, while continuing to increase their national recognition.

In 2007-08, UAB garnered its second consecutive top-three finish in C-USA by placing third with an overall record of 14-16 and a league mark of 10-6.

Also making notable highlights in 200708 was senior guard/forward Diamond Rogers. Rogers was a first-team all-conference honoree and was also a State Farm Coaches' All-America regional finalist.

The 2006-07 campaign served as the Blazers' break-out season under Smith, posting an overall record of 19-13, including a second-place 12-4 mark in Conference USA. Not only did UAB record its best overall record in six seasons, but the Blazers' 12 league wins was the most in school history since joining Conference USA in 1995.

UAB went on to be selected to play in the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) as an at-large bid, its first postseason appearance in six years. The Blazers earned a victory over Davidson in the first round before falling to Auburn in round two.

Not only did UAB experience team success in '06-07, it also had multiple individuals recognized within the conference and nationally for their talent and success. The Blazers had a trio honored by C-USA, including Carmen Guzman as the league's Player of the Year.

Guzman, who was developed and polished under Smith and her staff, continued to rack up multiple conference and national honors, finishing her career as one of the finest players to ever wear a Blazers' uniform. Guzman became just the second Blazer in school history to earn the C-USA Player of the Year award, while also being named a Kodak/WBCA All-America finalist and being invited to the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp.

Smith's second season (2005-06) ended with the Blazers producing an overall record of 14-14, a 7-9 record in C-USA play and a pair of all-conference selections. The squad's overall record was the first time UAB has posted a .500-plus mark since the 2000-01 season.

In 2004-05, UAB recorded a 7-21 overall mark in Smith's first season, as no Blazer player started every game and only three played in all 28 contests. Seven Blazers missed a total of 106 games for various reasons, with three different players missing at least 20 games of the season. UAB did participate in its second-consecutive Conference USA Tournament and won the Blazer Invitational during the season. Additionally, the Blazers took second at the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational hosted by Colorado State University.

Smith was named the fifth head women's basketball coach for UAB on April 7, 2004. The job is Smith's first collegiate head coaching position after she spent 14 years under Debbie Ryan at Virginia as a player and assistant coach. Smith was associated with the UVa women's basketball program for 10 years as a coach and four as a player.

"I am so excited," Smith said. "I could tell when I came here that the administration is very serious about the success of the women's basketball program. That was apparent. The program at UAB has experienced success in the past and my goal is to get back to that level and beyond."

In coming to UAB, Smith returned to a region familiar to her. Smith grew up in Milledgeville, Ga., and went on to become an outstanding prep basketball player at Baldwin High School from 1986-88.

After finishing her playing career at Virginia in 1992, Smith joined the Cavaliers' coaching staff in 1994 as the restricted earnings coach. After two years, she was elevated to a full-time position where she assisted with player development of the guards and worked extensively in recruiting and scouting. In May of 2000, she was promoted to recruiting coordinator and helped Virginia attract four recruiting classes rated among the nation's top 20.

Virginia won six straight Atlantic Coast Conference championships from 1991-96, as well as three ACC tournament campionships (`90, 92, `93). As a coach with the Cavaliers, Smith helped Virginia to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1995-2003), four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (1995-97, 2000); two NCAA Elite Eight appearances (1995-96); and three ACC regular season titles (1995-96, 2000). Seventeen Cavalier players were named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll a total of 28 times.

After graduating from Virginia in 1992 with a degree in sociology, she worked as a child and adolescent counselor and as a social worker with the Department of Family and Children Services in Milledgeville. From there she returned to begin her coaching career in Charlottesville. As a player at Virginia, Smith was a member of the Cavaliers team that competed in three consecutive Final Fours (1990, 1991 and 1992). Virginia reached the championship game in 1991, falling 70-67 in overtime to Tennessee. She was a four-year letterwinner.

At Baldwin, she was named honorable mention All-America by Street and Smith's and was named Miss Georgia Basketball in 1988. She led Baldwin High in Milledgeville, Ga., to three consecutive Georgia AAAA state championships (1986, 1987 and 1988) and was named the MVP of the state tournament as a junior in 1987.

Smith, 39, is married to former Virginia basketball player Anthony Oliver and has a son, A.J. (10) and a daughter, Adria (9). She has been a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association since 1994 and the Black Coaches Association since 2002.