Katie Smith dominated the hardwood at both the college and professional level, now she's looking to do it as a head coach as the former Ohio State women's basketball great was named the new head coach of the New York Liberty.
OFFICIAL: WNBA legend Katie Smith (@katiesmith30) has been named head coach of the New York Liberty. pic.twitter.com/k5s0fczu7K
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 16, 2017
Smith is one of the greatest women's hoops players in program history. She owns career school records for points per game, free throws made and free throws attempted, is the program's second all-time leading scorer and ranks in the top-12 all time in games played, field goals made, three-pointers made, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, assists, rebounds and steals. She was a three-time unanimous first-team All-American.
Smith was dominant in the WNBA, as well. In 2013, Smith retired from the Liberty as the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball history, scoring 7,885 points over her 17-year professional career.
She was a seven-time All-Star and two-time First Team All-WNBA selection, winning WNBA Championships in 2006 and 2008. Last year, she was named one of the WNBA's 20 greatest players of all time.
“I am excited for this opportunity to continue to work with the amazing women of the New York Liberty in a new role,” Smith said in a statement. “I want to thank James Dolan, Isiah Thomas, and Madison Square Garden for entrusting me to lead this team, along with Bill Laimbeer for all that he did to bring me along over the past four seasons, and prepare me to become a head coach in the WNBA. I am grateful to have the opportunity to take on this next challenge in my career.”
