Charmin Smith
Charmin Arnette Smith is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the California [Golden Bears women's basketball|California Golden Bears women's team].
Early life and collegiate career
Smith was born in St. Louis on May 2, 1975.Smith graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis in 1993. As a senior at Watkins, she earned Missouri First Team All-State honors. After high school, Smith attended Stanford University, where she played four years for the Cardinal women's basketball|Cardinal]. A four-year letter winner from 1993 to 1997, Smith helped Stanford win three consecutive Pac-10 championships and make three consecutive Final Four appearances in 1995 [NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1995], 1996 NCAA [Division I women's basketball tournament|1996], and 1997. Smith averaged 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists during her senior year.
Smith earned two degrees in civil and environmental engineering at the Stanford [University School of Engineering], a bachelor's degree in 1997 and master's degree in 2000.
Professional career
After her years at Stanford, Smith played one year with the Portland Power of the ABL, the last year before the league folded.She would be signed by the Minnesota Lynx for the 1999 WNBA season. In December 1999, the Seattle Storm picked her up in the 2000 [WNBA expansion draft|2000 expansion draft], and she would play for the Storm for the 2000 and 2001 WNBA seasons. She would play one more season in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury in 2003.
Smith went overseas in 2003 to play for the Swedish team Solna Vikings before retiring from the sport as a player.
During her off-seasons with the WNBA, Smith would work as a production assistant and editor with NBA Entertainment, as well as with the Seattle Storm CR office.
Career statistics
WNBA
Regular season
College
Coaching career
Boston College
Smith began her coaching career as an assistant under Cathy Inglese at Boston College in the 2003−04 season. The Eagles won their first Big East tournament championship, and were eliminated in the regional semifinals of the 2004 NCAA tournament.Stanford
Smith was subsequently hired by Tara VanDerveer, under whom she played at Stanford, as an assistant for the Cardinal. In Smith's three years on VanDerveer's staff, the Cardinal went 87−16 overall, attaining a record of 49−5 in Pac-10 play, while winning two conference tournaments and making the Elite 8 twice.California
Smith joined Joanne Boyle's coaching staff at California in 2007. The Golden Bears won the 2010 WNIT and made postseason appearances in all of Boyle's remaining years as coach.Smith remained on the California staff when Lindsay Gottlieb was named head coach in 2011. For the 2012−13 season, Gottlieb promoted Smith to associate head coach, helping to lead a team with high expectations coming off a second round NCAA tournament appearance in 2011−12. That year, California went 32–4 and made their first ever Final Four appearance.