Washington Names Eddie Smith Head Baseball Coach
July 09, 2024 | Baseball, Washington Athletics Staff Central
SEATTLE βΒ The University of Washington has named Eddie Smith as the 25th head coach of the Husky baseball program, announced Tuesday by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun, pending conclusion of a successful background check.
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Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley, quickly turning the Wolverines around from a Western Athletic Conference bottom dweller to one of the nation's most feared mid-major outfits.
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Before UVU, Smith proved himself as one of college baseball's most brilliant offensive minds as an assistant coach at top programs in Virginia, Santa Clara, Notre Dame, Tulane and LSU.
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"Coach Eddie Smith is the ideal fit for Washington baseball," Chun said. "Coach Smith is a leader, an exceptional coach and a proven winner. His roots are firmly entrenched in the state of Washington and he has a full understanding of the history and tradition of the UW. We are excited to welcome Eddie, Jennifer and Cynthia to the Husky Family."
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Taking the helm of the Utah Valley program ahead of the 2022 season, Smith led UVU from a 10-47 record in 2021 to a 34-24 mark in 2023 and a program-record 18 WAC wins in 2024. During his time in Orem, Utah, Smith's Wolverines proved more than capable of hanging with college baseball's best, earning Power 5 wins over Arizona State, BYU and Utah.
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"I could not be more excited to be the head baseball coach at the University of Washington," Smith said. "I want to thank Pat Chun and (UW baseball sport administrator) Jordan Betts for their trust and belief in me to lead these young men. This program offers everything a player could want or need for their development and the opportunity to win championships. It will be an exciting time to build Husky baseball as we enter the Big Ten and our program will work with a relentless pursuit toward winning championships. Go Dawgs!"
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Under Smith's tutelage, UVU has racked up the WAC's second-highest win total, trailing Grand Canyon only, and has done so while providing plenty of offensive fireworks. With Smith also serving as the Wolverines' hitting coach, UVU set school records in home runs, stolen bases, walks, and hit by pitches.
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In addition to putting on a show on the diamond, Smith's program has prepared his players for the next level as seven UVU players signed professional contracts during his three seasons. In 2023, Casey Anderson became the highest draft pick in program history when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round.
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Smith also oversaw the development of infielder Daniel Dickinson, who earned All-American status in each of his first two seasons.Β Dickinson was also named a member of the 2024 US Collegiate National Team.
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"After a thorough, nationwide search, it was clear to everyone involved that Coach Smith was the right choice for our program," Betts said. "His resume speaks for itself having built winning ball clubs and developed the nation's top talent. Just as crucially, his ties to the state of Washington give him a unique understanding of what it takes to succeed in the Pacific Northwest."
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After improving the Wolverines win total by nine games in his first season in Orem, Smith's UVU squad made a rapid jump in 2023. UVU posted a 34-24 record, its most wins since 2016. Earning the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, the Wolverines bowed out in the final, falling one game short of an NCAA Tournament bid.
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The following season, UVU garnered a 29-29 overall record and made their mark in league play. The Wolverines' finished 18-12 in conference, their most WAC wins ever, tying for second in the league standings. The 2024 Wolverines slugged 106 home runs, topping the century mark with a BBCOR bat for the first time in program history.
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Smith arrived at Utah Valley after serving as the hitting coach at LSU for two seasons. In Baton Rouge, Smith helped guide the Tigers offense to BBCOR era program records in home runs and slugging percentage in 2021 on a team that reached the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
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The Tigers finished the season ranked seventh in the country in home runs and freshman phenom Dylan Crews was named the National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game. Before 2021, LSU had not had a hitter finish the season with an OPS over 1.000 since 2013 but in 2021 both Crews and Gavin Dugas reached the 1.000 OPS milestone for the season.
Prior to his time at LSU, Smith was the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach at Tulane from 2018-19. In 2019, the Tulane offense set nearly every all-time conference record in the American Athletic Conference, including scoring, OPS, home runs, slugging, batting average, and walks per game.
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The Green Wave finished the regular season second in the country in home runs and third baseman Kody Hoese was named the Conference Player of the Year before becoming the First Round Pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Smith's recruiting prowess was shown at Tulane when Perfect Game ranked the 2019 high school class the No. 1 class in the American.
Smith arrived at Tulane after four seasons as the head coach at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington. While the head coach at Lower Columbia the program won two NWAC Championships, highlighted by the 2015 team that finished the season ranked No. 10 in the country by Perfect Game. That season Smith was named the level's National Coach of the Year by the ABCA.Β
Before Lower Columbia, Smith spent time as an assistant coach at Notre Dame, Santa Clara, and Virginia. In five years at Virginia, Smith helped build the Cavaliers into what is now a perennial power. Smith and Virginia advanced to the College World Series in 2009 and 2011, the first two trips to Omaha in the program's history.
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In all, Smith has coached 16 players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. Multiple former players have become World Series Champions and MLB All-Star Game participants. Smith has coached five players who have been first round picks, 41 players taken in the top 10 rounds, and 78 total players who have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
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Smith graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 with a 3.8 college GPA and a degree in Spanish. In two years as an infielder at Notre Dame, the Irish advanced to the NCAA Tournament and won the Big East Championship both seasons. Prior to attending Notre Dame, Smith was an all-region infielder at Centralia Community College in Washington where he was named to the school's athletic hall of fame in 2012.
Smith is married to the former Jennifer Cromwell. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she was a three-time All-American and helped the Cavaliers win the National Championship her senior year in rowing. She is the daughter of longtime NFL player and coach Nolan Cromwell. In 2022 the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Cynthia.
For more information on the UW baseball team, follow @UW_Baseball on X and Instagram.
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Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley, quickly turning the Wolverines around from a Western Athletic Conference bottom dweller to one of the nation's most feared mid-major outfits.
Β
Before UVU, Smith proved himself as one of college baseball's most brilliant offensive minds as an assistant coach at top programs in Virginia, Santa Clara, Notre Dame, Tulane and LSU.
Β
"Coach Eddie Smith is the ideal fit for Washington baseball," Chun said. "Coach Smith is a leader, an exceptional coach and a proven winner. His roots are firmly entrenched in the state of Washington and he has a full understanding of the history and tradition of the UW. We are excited to welcome Eddie, Jennifer and Cynthia to the Husky Family."
Β
Taking the helm of the Utah Valley program ahead of the 2022 season, Smith led UVU from a 10-47 record in 2021 to a 34-24 mark in 2023 and a program-record 18 WAC wins in 2024. During his time in Orem, Utah, Smith's Wolverines proved more than capable of hanging with college baseball's best, earning Power 5 wins over Arizona State, BYU and Utah.
Β
"I could not be more excited to be the head baseball coach at the University of Washington," Smith said. "I want to thank Pat Chun and (UW baseball sport administrator) Jordan Betts for their trust and belief in me to lead these young men. This program offers everything a player could want or need for their development and the opportunity to win championships. It will be an exciting time to build Husky baseball as we enter the Big Ten and our program will work with a relentless pursuit toward winning championships. Go Dawgs!"
Β
Under Smith's tutelage, UVU has racked up the WAC's second-highest win total, trailing Grand Canyon only, and has done so while providing plenty of offensive fireworks. With Smith also serving as the Wolverines' hitting coach, UVU set school records in home runs, stolen bases, walks, and hit by pitches.
Β
In addition to putting on a show on the diamond, Smith's program has prepared his players for the next level as seven UVU players signed professional contracts during his three seasons. In 2023, Casey Anderson became the highest draft pick in program history when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round.
Β
Smith also oversaw the development of infielder Daniel Dickinson, who earned All-American status in each of his first two seasons.Β Dickinson was also named a member of the 2024 US Collegiate National Team.
Β
"After a thorough, nationwide search, it was clear to everyone involved that Coach Smith was the right choice for our program," Betts said. "His resume speaks for itself having built winning ball clubs and developed the nation's top talent. Just as crucially, his ties to the state of Washington give him a unique understanding of what it takes to succeed in the Pacific Northwest."
Β
After improving the Wolverines win total by nine games in his first season in Orem, Smith's UVU squad made a rapid jump in 2023. UVU posted a 34-24 record, its most wins since 2016. Earning the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, the Wolverines bowed out in the final, falling one game short of an NCAA Tournament bid.
Β
The following season, UVU garnered a 29-29 overall record and made their mark in league play. The Wolverines' finished 18-12 in conference, their most WAC wins ever, tying for second in the league standings. The 2024 Wolverines slugged 106 home runs, topping the century mark with a BBCOR bat for the first time in program history.
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Smith arrived at Utah Valley after serving as the hitting coach at LSU for two seasons. In Baton Rouge, Smith helped guide the Tigers offense to BBCOR era program records in home runs and slugging percentage in 2021 on a team that reached the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
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The Tigers finished the season ranked seventh in the country in home runs and freshman phenom Dylan Crews was named the National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game. Before 2021, LSU had not had a hitter finish the season with an OPS over 1.000 since 2013 but in 2021 both Crews and Gavin Dugas reached the 1.000 OPS milestone for the season.
Prior to his time at LSU, Smith was the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach at Tulane from 2018-19. In 2019, the Tulane offense set nearly every all-time conference record in the American Athletic Conference, including scoring, OPS, home runs, slugging, batting average, and walks per game.
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The Green Wave finished the regular season second in the country in home runs and third baseman Kody Hoese was named the Conference Player of the Year before becoming the First Round Pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Smith's recruiting prowess was shown at Tulane when Perfect Game ranked the 2019 high school class the No. 1 class in the American.
Smith arrived at Tulane after four seasons as the head coach at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington. While the head coach at Lower Columbia the program won two NWAC Championships, highlighted by the 2015 team that finished the season ranked No. 10 in the country by Perfect Game. That season Smith was named the level's National Coach of the Year by the ABCA.Β
Before Lower Columbia, Smith spent time as an assistant coach at Notre Dame, Santa Clara, and Virginia. In five years at Virginia, Smith helped build the Cavaliers into what is now a perennial power. Smith and Virginia advanced to the College World Series in 2009 and 2011, the first two trips to Omaha in the program's history.
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In all, Smith has coached 16 players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. Multiple former players have become World Series Champions and MLB All-Star Game participants. Smith has coached five players who have been first round picks, 41 players taken in the top 10 rounds, and 78 total players who have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
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Smith graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 with a 3.8 college GPA and a degree in Spanish. In two years as an infielder at Notre Dame, the Irish advanced to the NCAA Tournament and won the Big East Championship both seasons. Prior to attending Notre Dame, Smith was an all-region infielder at Centralia Community College in Washington where he was named to the school's athletic hall of fame in 2012.
Smith is married to the former Jennifer Cromwell. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she was a three-time All-American and helped the Cavaliers win the National Championship her senior year in rowing. She is the daughter of longtime NFL player and coach Nolan Cromwell. In 2022 the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Cynthia.
For more information on the UW baseball team, follow @UW_Baseball on X and Instagram.
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