SMITH NAMED NEW WOMEN'S TENNIS COACH

Smith brings 11 years of coaching experience to N.C. A&T

GREENSBORO, September 11, 2006 – North Carolina A&T athletics director Dee Todd has announced today, the hiring of Andy Smith to be the new N.C. A&T women’s tennis coach. Smith becomes the first full-time tennis coach at N.C. A&T.

“I’m excited to be back in college coaching, and I’m excited to be coaching at A&T,’’ said Smith. “I want my players to know it’s a new day here. We want to compete, build this program and stay focused on being the best tennis program we can be.”

Smith brings 11 years of coaching experience with him to N.C. A&T. Prior to taking off a year from coaching, Smith coached at Georgia State University from 2002-05. In 2005, he led the Panthers to 16-6 record, and a spot in the Atlantic Sun Tournament semifinals.

In 2003, he helped Anne Breiholtz to Atlantic Freshman of the Year honors as the Panthers finished the season ranked No. 75 in the country.

Smith’s first head coaching job was at Gardner-Webb University before it became a Division I institution. Smith coached men’s and women’s teams from 1995-02. In his third season there, he led the Lady Bulldogs to the Division II Eastern Regional Final. Over the next two seasons, his Bulldog lady teams won the Eastern Regional and qualified to play for the national championship.

In 2001, Smith led the men’s team to the National Christian College Athletic Association championship, won the NCCAA Coach of the Year award and led the Lady Bulldogs to the NCCAA Women’s Invitational Tournament championship.

Smith and his wife Kathy have three children – daughters, Summer (7) and Paula (9) –  and son Joey (8).