Having already established herself as an elite coach on the state level, Baylor School veteran softball coach Kelli Smith has now been nationally recognized for her work.
Smith has been honored as one of only 10 high school coaches across all girls' sports to be named a National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Coaches Association.
"It's very humbling," Smith said. "I was surprised quite honestly when I found out, but I'm very honored and excited to represent our school and area."
The NFHS, which has been honoring coaches since 1982, recognizes those who work in the top 10 girls' and boys' sports (by participation numbers), with Smith earning her recognition for having led the Lady Red Raiders to their eighth consecutive Division II-AA state championship at last May's Spring Fling.
Smith has coached her high school alma mater since 2003, having compiled an impressive 622-144 overall record — 244-30 over the past 10 seasons — and has guided Baylor to 14 state championships, including a state-record eight straight and 11 in the past 12 years.
The Lady Red Raiders were ranked in the top 25 nationally by USA Today in 2013 and have been recognized by MaxPreps multiple times as Tennessee's best team. She was the TSSAA's overall softball coach of the year after last season.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Baylor School head softball coach Kelli Smith added a national coaching award to her already impressive resume this week.Last year's Baylor team finished 22-6-1 overall and outscored three state tournament opponents by a combined score of 34-5. Dating to 2017, the Lady Red Raiders have won 16 straight state tournament games, outscoring those opponents by a total of 131-20.
"It's amazing when you think about what our program has accomplished," said Smith, who was an all-state shortstop on Baylor's first two state title teams (1993-94). "It can be overwhelming and full of pressure to continue that standard, but every year our players come in determined to do what it takes to continue the tradition.
"I always remind them that there's a gold trophy out there that somebody needs to go get, and we want it to be us every year."
In addition to her on-field success, Smith's teams have also received the TSSAA's A.F. Bridges Sportsmanship Award three times and Smith has been named Times Free Press Best of Preps softball Coach of the Year three times. She was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
Along with those state titles, Smith's teams have also finished runners-up twice and the only thing preventing the Lady Red Raiders from owning 12 consecutive state titles was rival GPS rallying to win two straight games in the 2014 tournament finals.
Practice begins in mid-February for the new season, which starts March 4, as Baylor will look to extend its championship streak.
The Lady Red Raiders graduated three starters from last year's team but have five rising seniors who have already signed college scholarships — pitchers Avery Shamblin (Memphis) and Kaylee Snyder (North Alabama), as well as Riley Oleksik (Eastern Kentucky), Addie Yates (UNC-Wilmington) and Holly Merritt (Miami-Ohio).
"We have an incredible senior class," said Smith, who has had more than 30 players sign college scholarships. "All of those kids have been significant players or starters since their freshman or sophomore season, so I'm really excited for their experience and leadership.
"Our kids have always made my job so much easier."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.