Wake Forest Signs Randi Smart to Multi-Year Contract Extension
4/20/2023 9:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Demon Deacons head volleyball coach has led the program to its first back-to-back winning seasons in over two decades.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest University and head volleyball coach Randi Smart have agreed on a long-term contract extension, announced by Director of Athletics John Currie on Friday, April 21.
"Capacity crowds inside Varsity Arena last fall, and the first postseason appearance in the modern history of our program, are reflective of the hard work and leadership Coach Randi Smart has poured into building an ACC Championship contending future for Wake Forest Volleyball," said Currie. "This multi-year contract extension is indicative of both Wake Forest's commitment to providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for all teams and our belief in Coach Smart and her staff on the progress they have made in building a positive team culture, both on and off the court."
"I am honored to be a part of Wake Forest volleyball and very excited about what we are currently doing and where we are going," Smart said. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics John Currie and our University leadership for their belief in our staff over the past few years. I would also like to thank my entire staff for their dedication to the success of our student-athletes on and off the court. There are no other people and no other place I'd rather be than in Winston-Salem, leading this program."
The 2022 fall campaign marked the first time since 2001 that the program produced back-to-back winning seasons. Smart paced Wake Forest to a 17-14 overall record in fall 2022 – its best mark since 2010. Additionally, the Demon Deacons grabbed 10 victories on their home floor, the most since the 2014 campaign. The team went on to participate in the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) for its first postseason appearance since 1986 when the Deacs played in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament before the event ceased in 2004.
As early as week two of the 2022 fall season, Wake Forest found itself ranked within the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) top five among all member institutions in digs-per-set, as a team. The Deacons finished fourth in the conference with a 14.02 digs-per-set average.
Wake Forest first-year libero Emma Farrell was named the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in a digs-per-set average (4.41). The Norcross, Georgia, native became the first Deacon to attain such recognition since Christy Williams in 2002, along with being only the second, all-time Wake Forest player. Farrell and outside hitter Paige Crawford also were tabbed to the conference's 2022 All-Freshman Team, becoming the first pair in program history to secure All-Freshman selections since Caroline Rassenfoss and Caitlyn Della in 2016. Farrell and Crawford combined for a total of four ACC Freshman of the Week honors – the highest mark in the Randi Smart era. In late-February, Farrell, Crawford, and newcomer Ava Carney all received tryout invites to the 2023 USA Volleyball Women's National Team (WNT) Open Program, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A newly-set program record of ten players earned selections to the All-ACC Academic Team at the 2022 season's conclusion.
Smart was officially named the head coach of the Demon Deacons on October 11, 2019 after serving as interim head coach for seven months. She joined the program in 2017 as an assistant following an eight-year tenure as the women's head volleyball coach at Cal State Los Angeles.
Smart joined the Golden Eagles of Cal State Los Angeles as an assistant coach in 2008 and then moved up to the head coach position in 2009. In her first season, she led the team to a 23-9 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division II West Region championship match. Smart continued to build a winning program that included an overall record of 136-90, eight All-Americans, 18 All-CCAA members, nine All-Region athletes and the program's second-ever CoSIDA Academic All-America award.
Prior to her time at Cal State Los Angeles, Smart spent a combined 10 years as an assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona and the University of La Verne.
Smart played overseas in Austria for one year after graduating from LSU in 1998. She spent her freshman and sophomore collegiate seasons playing at Utah State before transferring to LSU for her final two seasons. In her time with the Tigers, Smart received All-SEC honors.
Smart graduated from Glendora High School in Los Angeles where she earned All-CIF honors and was the league's Most Valuable Player.
