Women's Swimming and Diving | July 29, 2021

PHILADELPHIA – Kerry Smith, a Havertown, Pa. native, is the new head men's and women's swimming & diving coach, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Brian Baptiste announced on Thursday.
 
"We are excited to welcome Kerry back home to Philadelphia," Baptiste said. "She brings a championship pedigree from her time as a student-athlete and coach. Her passion and excitement for the sport stood out throughout the interview process and will resonate with our student-athletes."
 
Smith comes to 20th & Olney after spending the past three seasons as the head women's swimming and diving coach at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y.
 
"First, I'd like to thank Mr. Baptiste and Ms. Donease Smith for the opportunity and trust that they are showing in me to lead the La Salle Explorers," said Smith. "Coming home to Philadelphia and coaching at a pool that was host to my first of many championships is a special honor for me. Family has always come first, and the idea of doing what I love, in a faith based community and being there for my family is second to none. La Salle is a great school with a wonderful history and tradition. I'm excited to see how high we can soar as a men's and women's program! Go Explorers!"
 
During her time leading the Sea Wolves, Smith coached a total of four medalists, including redshirt senior Michal Liberman to the gold medal in the 100-yard butterfly at the America East Championship in 2020, marking the first individual title for the program since 2011.
 
She also improved the team's scoring output at the America East Championships year over year with 185 points in 2019 to 350 points in 2021.
 
Smith's program performed at a top-notch level in the classroom, being named a CSCAA Scholar All-America team throughout her entire tenure.
 
Prior to Stony Brook, Smith spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Yale University. At Yale, Smith helped the team achieve back-to-back-to-back undefeated Ivy League dual meet seasons from 2016-2018. In 2017, the women's team claimed its first Ivy League Championship in nearly two decades, while being runner ups in 2016 and 2018. Smith also coached eight student-athletes to the 2016 U.S. Olympic team trials.
 
Smith's prior collegiate coaching experience includes experience at the Division I and Division II levels. She spent two seasons at the University of Virginia, where she primarily worked with the middle-distance swimmers, and helped lead the team to the ACC Championships in 2014 and 2015, as well as 11th and fifth place finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
 
Before the University of Virginia, Smith coached the sprint and middle-distance swimmers at Wingate University in North Carolina, leading the team to a conference championship and a sixth place and 11th place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships for the women's team and men's team, respectively. Wingate also had multiple All-Americans during Smith's time as a coach.
 
Also at the Division II level, Smith coached the distance swimmers at Truman State University during the 2011-2012 season.
 
In 2008, Smith was named an ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) Fellow. She completed research into the survival of swimming and diving programs across the country to determine how best to limit the number of teams that get dropped from the varsity athletics departments at colleges and universities. 
  
Smith swam at Penn State University, where she graduated with a pair of bachelor's degrees in advertising/public relations and marketing in 2005. She was named the team captain in 2005 and was a member of the Big Ten Championship teams in 2002 and 2005.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING...
"I am so thrilled to see Coach Smith going back to her hometown of Philly! Kerry is a fantastic coach and an even better person who genuinely cares about her athletes. With her vision and leadership, La Salle Swimming and Diving is going to be fun to watch in the years to come!"
 
-Ed Pretre, Head Swimming & Diving Coach, Colgate University