Dayna Smith (basketball)

Donna Smith
Current position
TitleDirector of player development
TeamUMass
ConferenceAtlantic 10
Playing career
1992–1996Rhode Island
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1996–1999Rhode Island (assistant)
1999Rhode Island (interim HC)
1999–2002Penn (assistant)
2002–2024Cornell
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2024–presentUMass (Women's Basketball
Director of Player Development)

Dayna Smith is an American basketball player and coach who is currently the director of player development for the UMass Minutewomen basketball team.[1] She previously was the head coach of the Cornell Big Red women's basketball team for 22 seasons from 2002 until 2024.[2]

Coaching career

She was dismissed following a disappointing 2023–24 season where the team was tied for last-place in Ivy League standings.[3] During her tenure at Cornell, the women's basketball team won one regular season conference championship and qualified for one NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, both in 2008.[4]

Administrative career

On September 5, 2024, Smith was hired as director of player development for the UMass Minutewomen basketball team.[5]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Cornell Big Red (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2003–2024)
2002–03 Cornell 10–17 4–10 4th
2003–04 Cornell 9–18 4–10 7th
2004–05 Cornell 3–24 1–13 8th
2005–06 Cornell 8–19 5–9 5th
2006–07 Cornell 12–15 8–6 3rd
2007–08 Cornell 20–9 12–3 1st NCAA First Round
2008–09 Cornell 10–16 6–7 4th
2009–10 Cornell 7–20 2–12 7th
2010–11 Cornell 6–22 3–11 7th
2011–12 Cornell 12–16 6–8 5th
2012–13 Cornell 13–15 5–9 5th
2013–14 Cornell 14–14 6–8 5th
2014–15 Cornell 15–13 6–8 5th
2015–16 Cornell 14–14 6–8 5th
2016–17 Cornell 16–11 7–7 4th
2017–18 Cornell 7–20 3–11 6th
2018–19 Cornell 12–14 6–8 4th
2019–20 Cornell 10–16 3–11 7th
2020–21 Cornell Season Cancelled
2021–22 Cornell 9–16 4–10 6th
Cornell: 224–345 (.394) 97–170 (.363)
Total: 224–345 (.394)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ "Dayna Smith - Women's Basketball Coach". University of Massachusetts Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Hatfield, Jenn (March 12, 2024). "After 22 years, Dayna Smith is out as Cornell's head coach". The Next. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  3. ^ McNally, Jane (March 11, 2024). "Dayna Smith Removed as Head Coach of Women's Basketball After 21 Years in Position". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ^ "Dayna Smith Coaching Record". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  5. ^ "Smith Joins Women's Basketball Staff as Director of Player Development". University of Massachusetts Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2025.