Tulsa Hires Sandra Smith To Be Assistant Coach
Tulsa head softball coach John Bargfeldt announced that he had hired Tulsa native Sandra Smith as an assistant coach. Smith replaces Kendra Cullum who left the Hurricane program after one season to accept a head coaching position at the high school level in Texarkana, Texas.
Smith comes to the Golden Hurricane’s after spending the last five seasons (2013-17) as an assistant coach at Furman. Smith was responsible for developing the Furman hitters, infielders, and catchers along with coordinating the team’s travel.
“We are lucky to find a highly recommended and experienced coach who wants to make Tulsa her home,” Bargfeldt said in Tulsa press release. “I heard nothing but high praises from her previous head coach and former players. Sandra has ten years of Division I playing and coaching experience and has had a hand in all phases of the program at her previous school. She will coach outfielders, assist with hitting instruction and recruiting as well as serving as our first base coach.”
Smith enjoyed a successful playing career at Arkansas, where she still owns the program’s single-season RBI record with 50 as a senior in 2010. That season Smith hit .326 with nine home runs and was an NFCA All-South Region selection.
Following Smith’s playing career, she went into coaching. Smith served as an assistant softball coach at Rogers [Ark.] High School in 2012. She also served as a private hitting and infield instructor for two seasons and helped coach the Springdale Chicks U-15 team in the summer of 2012.
Smith joined the Furman program and contributed to 151 victories during her time there, including 30-win seasons each of her final three campaigns including 31 wins and a share of the program’s first Southern Conference title in 22 years in 2017. Smith was part of the staff that earned the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Smith joins a Tulsa team that is coming off winning the American regular season and Conference Tournament championship and will return AAC pitcher of the year Emily Watson and the majority of the offense.
