Education

B.A., Speech Communications, University of North Carolina
B.A., Political Science, University of North Carolina

Background

Beverly Smith joined the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management in August 2025 as an executive in residence. She brings more than two decades of experience in athletics leadership and team development to the classroom, where she teaches a leadership course that features guest appearances from national figures including Dawn Staley.

Smith spent 14 seasons as the head coach of South Carolina’s softball program, where she became the second-winningest coach in school history. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks advanced to nine NCAA Tournaments, reached a Super Regional in 2018 and made seven consecutive postseason appearances from 2013 to 2019. She guided players to multiple All-America, All-Region and All-SEC honors while also mentoring athletes who went on to professional careers and coaching positions. In her final season with the Gamecocks, they finished with a national ranking of No. 22.

Prior to South Carolina, Smith served more than a decade on the coaching staff at the University of North Carolina, including three years as associate head coach. She was the program’s lead recruiter and pitching specialist, helping the Tar Heels to two ACC championships, eight NCAA Tournament appearances and several top-25 national rankings.

A standout athlete herself, Smith was named ACC Player of the Year in 1994 as a dual-threat player for North Carolina. She later competed professionally with the Tampa Bay FireStix of the Women’s Pro Softball League. Beyond coaching, she has been a frequent clinician and speaker at leadership, coaching and player development events across the country.

In her role with HRSM, Smith applies her expertise in leadership, motivation and team culture to prepare students for careers in sport and entertainment management. Her experience building winning programs and developing high-performing athletes provides a unique perspective on how leaders can inspire excellence in any industry.

Honors / Awards

• ACC Player of the Year, University of North Carolina (1994)
• Honored as one of the top 50 softball players in ACC history (2002)
• Second-winningest head coach in South Carolina softball history (2011-2024)
• 400+ career wins as a Division I head coach (2023 milestone)