Kats hire new assistant softball coach
5/28/2024 10:44:00 AM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston head softball coach Garrett Valis has announced the hiring of Lexi Smith as a new assistant coach for the 2025 season.
Lexi Smith has been a member of the Northwestern State softball team as a pitching coach since August 2021. During that time, the Demons won 97 games and posted three seasons with a winning percentage above .500 with the former Texas A&M pitcher on staff.
"I am excited to welcome coach Lexi back to Texas and add her to our staff," Valis said. "She brings a lot of experience and a very positive energy to our program. She is a worker on the recruiting trail and will continue to push our program forward."
At Northwestern State, Smith mentored Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, and first-team All-SLC selection Sage Hoover as well as second-team honoree Bronte Rhoden in 2022. She also tutored Maggie Darr who was preseason second-team all-conference in 2024 and surpassed 300 strikeouts in three years which is top 10 in school history.
Previously, Smith was the pitching coach at NCAA Division III Southwestern for one season where she tutored all-conference pitcher Kinly McCaffery.
Before Southwestern, Smith assisted with pitchers at her alma mater Texas A&M for the 2019 season. She contributed to in-game pitch calling with pitching coach Kara Dill as well as other data analysis.
Smith spent the first two seasons of her college career at Temple College before pitching her final two seasons at Texas A&M.
Smith was voted NFCA All-South Region Second Team as a junior with 12-1 record and a team-best ERA of 1.63 with 118 strikeouts in 107 innings, including five shutouts.
The Temple native also posted a team-low 1.66 ERA with a 10-2 record as a senior in 2018.
Smith shined at Temple College in her first two seasons, earning NJCAA All-American status both seasons with a combined 50-14 record, including five no-hitters as a sophomore. One highlight included a 14-inning perfect game against Vernon College with 32 strikeouts.
Smith graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in leadership studies and minor in recreational parks/tourism and sports management.
Lexi Smith has been a member of the Northwestern State softball team as a pitching coach since August 2021. During that time, the Demons won 97 games and posted three seasons with a winning percentage above .500 with the former Texas A&M pitcher on staff.
"I am excited to welcome coach Lexi back to Texas and add her to our staff," Valis said. "She brings a lot of experience and a very positive energy to our program. She is a worker on the recruiting trail and will continue to push our program forward."
At Northwestern State, Smith mentored Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, and first-team All-SLC selection Sage Hoover as well as second-team honoree Bronte Rhoden in 2022. She also tutored Maggie Darr who was preseason second-team all-conference in 2024 and surpassed 300 strikeouts in three years which is top 10 in school history.
Previously, Smith was the pitching coach at NCAA Division III Southwestern for one season where she tutored all-conference pitcher Kinly McCaffery.
Before Southwestern, Smith assisted with pitchers at her alma mater Texas A&M for the 2019 season. She contributed to in-game pitch calling with pitching coach Kara Dill as well as other data analysis.
Smith spent the first two seasons of her college career at Temple College before pitching her final two seasons at Texas A&M.
Smith was voted NFCA All-South Region Second Team as a junior with 12-1 record and a team-best ERA of 1.63 with 118 strikeouts in 107 innings, including five shutouts.
The Temple native also posted a team-low 1.66 ERA with a 10-2 record as a senior in 2018.
Smith shined at Temple College in her first two seasons, earning NJCAA All-American status both seasons with a combined 50-14 record, including five no-hitters as a sophomore. One highlight included a 14-inning perfect game against Vernon College with 32 strikeouts.
Smith graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in leadership studies and minor in recreational parks/tourism and sports management.
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