April 6, 2006
Champaign, Ill. -
Paula Smith announced today that this will be her final year in charge of the Illini women's golf program, as she will retire following the conclusion of the 2006 season. A 1997 inductee into the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Hall of Fame, Smith is concluding her 28th season as Illini head coach.
"Being at the University of Illinois for the past 28 years has meant so much to me," Smith said. "I want to thank the past and present administrations, fellow coaches, DIA support staff, academic services, and past and present student-athletes, especially all of the women golfers who have allowed me to play a role in their lives. Ron Guenther will continue to provide great leadership for the program and I will miss being on his team."
Smith's coaching career with the Illini began in the fall of 1978 and has spanned the entire duration of Illinois' participation in Big Ten and NCAA competition, as well as the final six seasons of play under the auspices of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Smith was inducted into the NGCA Hall of Fame in January, 1997 in Orlando, Fla. where she was the 23rd coach to receive the honor.
"Paula Smith has been an outstanding coach and an exceptional representative for the University of Illinois," Director of Athletics Ron Guenther said. "Paula is a very popular person in our department. She cares a great deal for her student-athletes and has been involved with the members of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at all levels. We've been very fortunate to have her service over the past 28 years, and wish her well in retirement."
Playing in the competitive Big Ten Conference, Smith's teams have achieved success on and off the golf course. In 2002, Smith guided Illinois to fifth place in the Big Ten and to a berth in the NCAA Central Regional, the first-ever postseason appearance for the Fighting Illini as a team. Smith again led the Illini to a very successful season in 2003. Illinois won three tournaments during the course of the year and advanced to NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive season, finishing 10th at the West Regional and missing a trip to nationals by just two spots.
Four times during the 1990s from '92 through '95, Illinois finished third in the Big Ten, the school's second-highest all-time finish. Starting with the 1993-1994 team, Smith's teams had the highest combined grade point average among Illinois female varsity sports teams on eight occasions, including five successive years from 1999 to 2004. Illinois golf has had 60 Academic All-Big Ten selections, 86 George Huff Award winners, 29 National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar selections and 12 Chi Alpha Sigma honorees during Smith's tenure.
At Illinois, Smith has coached 13 All-Big Ten selections and standouts such as 1983 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner Mary Ellen Murphy Martin; two-time All-Big Ten performer Justi Rae Miller; All-Big Ten selection, former LPGA Tour member and current Western Illinois women's golf coach Lia Biehl Lukkarinen; Becky Biehl Sabbert, the only player to win the Big Ten title as a freshman and the only UI female golfer to earn All-Big Ten honors four times; and 2002 Futures Tour member Karen Karmazin Bruns.
Smith also coached former LPGA Tour member and NGCA Hall of Fame player Renee Heiken Slone, the top golfer in Illinois history who was a three-time All-American and All-Big Ten performer, a two-time Big Ten medalist and Big Ten Player of the Year, and the National Player of the Year in 1993 by Golf Week and the NGCA.
Smith has been actively involved in golf at the national level. She is currently serving in the final year of a three-year term on the NCAA Central Region Selection Committee. In the summer of 1995, Smith was selected to serve as coach for the U.S. women's collegiate team that traveled to Japan to compete in the 20th annual U.S.A. vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championships. In 1987, she completed a five-year term as coordinator for the selection of the Midwest Regional Coach of the Year. She has also been a member of the All-America and Academic All-America committees. Smith was co-coach of the NGCA's East Squad for its annual two-person best ball event, which preceded the NCAA championship tournament, at the University of Georgia in 1993.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University in 1968, Smith competed for four years on the Saluki golf team. She participated in the national championships in each of her four seasons and was selected to give the senior farewell speech at the National Championship Awards Banquet. Inducted into the Southern Illinois Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1994, her bronze plaque is displayed at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale, Ill.
Smith earned a master's degree in education at Illinois in 1970. She assisted former UI coach Jody Davenport with the women's golf team while in graduate school and then while teaching reading and study skills in the University of Illinois Counseling Department.
Smith has enjoyed a fruitful career as both a coach and a competitor, She won back-to-back Illinois Women's Amateur Championship titles in 1971 and 1972. The Freeburg, Ill. native's experience dates back to 1963 and 1964, when she won successive St. Louis-area junior girls championships. Smith won the Tri-State (Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky) Invitational in 1967, the Lake of the Woods Open in 1968 and 1969, the Southern Illinois Women's Golf Association Championship in 1969 and the Northern Illinois Women's Golf Association Tournament of Champions in 1976. She was the amateur runner-up in the 1970 St. Louis Open at Norwood Hills C.C., the amateur medalist in the 1971 LPGA Columbus Open held in Columbus, Ohio, and qualified for several U.S. Amateur Championships and the 1975 U.S. Open held at LaGrange (Ill.) Country Club.
In 1978 she qualified for the Women's Public Links Championship in Myrtle Beach. Smith also qualified for the 1987 Public Links in Chicago and the 1990 Public Links in Denver as well as the 1999 National Seniors' Olympics where she placed second in Orlando. In 2002, Smith won the U of I Open held on the Orange Course at Savoy. She successfully defended her U of I Club Championship for the third straight year in the summer of 2005.
"My husband, John Stoops, and I will continue to live in the area and I hope to be more involved with family, friends, and the community," Smith said. "I know that the Illinois women golfers will continue to develop and blossom into great representatives of the University of Illinois. In my heart, I will always be an Illini!"
Fans will have one last chance to watch the Illini golfers in person under the direction of Coach Smith when the program hosts the annual Illini Spring Classic on April 14-15 at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana. Tee-times are set for 8:30 a.m. both days.
Full Retirement Statement from Illini Women's Golf Coach Paula Smith
"In reflecting on the past thirty-six years of my career, it all started at the University of Illinois and will conclude at the University of Illinois with very special mentoring from many people. So many people have been instrumental in my journey, especially my parents, Paul and Dorothy Smith, who still reside in Belleville. Dr. Charlotte West gave me the opportunity of becoming a student-athlete at SIU-Carbondale before Title IX existed.
After finishing my master's degree at the University of Illinois, Boyd Jackson gave me my first full time position in the U of I counseling department. Jody Davenport allowed me the opportunity to assist her during the spring semesters with the women's golf club while I was in the counseling department. I will always have a special place for both of them in my heart.
After moving to the Mount Prospect area, Forest View High School gave me the opportunity to teach English as well as start the first girls' golf team in District 214.
Dr. Karol Kahrs was persistent in the late 70s to entice me from District 214 and offered me the opportunity to return to Champaign-Urbana as the women's golf coach. Being here the last 28 years has meant so much to me. I want to thank the past and present administrations, fellow coaches, DIA support staff, academic services, and past and present student-athletes, especially all of the women golfers who have allowed me to play a role in their lives. Ron Guenther will continue to provide great leadership for the program and I will miss being on his team.
My husband, John Stoops, and I will continue to live in the area and I hope to be more involved with family, friends, and the community. I know that the Illinois women golfers will continue to develop and blossom into great representatives of the University of Illinois. In my heart, I will always be an Illini!"
