By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Entering her third year as a member of the Tennessee Tech Athletics family, including each of the last two as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagle men's and women's golf teams, Amanda Smith has been promoted and will now serve as the head coach of the women's golf program, as announced by Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.
"I am beyond blessed for this opportunity and grateful to Mark Wilson and the staff for having faith in me to lead this program," Smith expressed. "I also want to thank Coach [Polk] Brown for making me a part of this team and community when he asked me to come along as an assistant two years ago. I will forever be thankful for his trust and guidance"
The team's previous head coach, Polk Brown, will retain the head coach position of the Tech men's golf team. Brown was introduced as both programs' first-ever full-time coach in July 2011.
"I am pleased to announce Amanda Smith as the next head coach of the Tennessee Tech women's golf program," Wilson said. "Her dedication to Golden Eagle golf these past two years has proven her worth to our programs. With the changing landscape across the Ohio Valley Conference and among other institutions across the state and region, now was the time for each of our golf programs to have a leader dedicated solely to their interests. This change will put both teams in a better place to compete for OVC Championships moving forward.
"I can't thank Polk enough for his dedication to the women's team over the past 10 seasons and am excited and thankful that he will be staying in our Golden Eagle family as the head coach of the men's golf program. His passion for Tennessee Tech is contagious and I know he will continue to do great work moving forward."
Brown was quick to offer his congratulations to Smith and express his excitement for her and the programs moving forward.
"This is an amazing transition for these student-athletes that will better enhance both programs for years to come," Brown expressed. "For the women's program, they are getting an extraordinary coach and even better person. Amanda is so deserving of this opportunity and I could not be more excited for her to lead this team. It has been an honor to coach these ladies for a decade now and I am very proud to have someone like Coach Smith take over. They are in great hands.
"I want to thank Mark Wilson for having the trust and belief in me to continue as the leader of the men's program. I can't wait to get started in this new adventure and I am even more excited to see what the future holds for both of the programs.
With her new role, Smith becomes the first full-time head coach dedicated to just the women's golf team in Tech history and the fourth different leader of the program ever. Hall of Famer Bobby Nichols established the program in 1986 and served as the head of both golf teams until his death in the spring of 2008.
From 2008 to 2011, former Golden Eagle golfer Brandy Stout returned to her alma mater as the women's head coach, spending three years at the helm before the hiring of Brown to oversee both the men's and women's programs.
"When you have a team like this, it is hard not to get excited about all the great things they are going to accomplish," Smith said. "I value all the hard work they put in and I am ready to grow alongside each and every one of them. I would also like to say thank you to all of my mentors, family, and friends for their continuous support to not only myself but to both of the men's and women's programs at Tech. It does not go unnoticed."
Smith joined the Tech staff in August 2019 after spending two years working outside operations at TPC Scottsdale, home of the PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open. She simultaneously pursued a professional golf career, competing twice in the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1.
Her professional resume consists of competing on the Cactus Tour and playing in the U.S. Women's Open Qualifiers and State Opens. With many events under her belt, her best mini-tour finish came from Desert Canyon Golf Club, where she tied for fourth place. She also won the Indiana Women's Open at the TPC Players Club.
A four-year letterwinner at Indiana State University, Smith still holds the program record for lowest 54-hole total. As a junior, she placed second individually at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships while helping the Sycamores to a runner-up finish. The Canton, Ohio native earned her bachelor's degree in recreation and sport management in 2015 from ISU. Following her playing career, she stayed on with the team as an assistant coach while earning her master's degree in sports management in December 2017.
Smith, who resides in Cookeville, is currently pursuing her LPGA Teaching Certification.
