By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf program will have the opportunity to continue its growth and progress from the past few seasons with the same leadership at the top, as TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson announced a contract extension for head coach Amanda Smith through the 2027-28 season.
"Amanda has done a wonderful job with our women's golf program since we elevated her from the assistant role and provided our student-athletes with a voice all their own," Wilson said. "She brings energy to the course every day and her work with our ladies has already paid with the growth the team has displayed over the last few years. We're ecstatic to keep Amanda here in Cookeville to continue her work on guiding our women's golf team back to the top of the OVC."
Smith is in her third year as the head coach of the Tennessee Tech women's golf program after serving two seasons as an assistant coach. Smith was elevated to the head of the program in July 2021 and is also in her fifth season as an assistant coach for the Tech men's golf team.
"I am blessed to receive this opportunity from Mark and the Athletics staff here," Smith expressed. "Tech has been like a family to me and I want to continue to grow the program to be one of the best in the Ohio Valley Conference. We are adding bigger and better facilities here at Golden Eagle Golf Club with the new short game facility and I know it will only improve our student-athletes' abilities for years to come. It's been amazing to be part of building that and watching it grow. I would like to thank all my players, family, and friends for all the encouragement while I continue to help these young women and men here at Tech."
Since taking over the program for the 2021-22 season, the Golden Eagles have seen steady progress under Smith's guidance, improving from a seventh-place showing at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships one year prior to finishing tied for fourth that first season. Last year, Tech moved up the rankings again, securing a top-three performance at the 2022-23 OVC Championships.
Following the 2022-23 regular season, a pair of Golden Eagles claimed All-Conference honors, with Ainsley Simms and Elisabeth Toennessen becoming the first members of the program to earn postseason recognition in three seasons. This season, fifth-year senior Gittle Sciolis earned All-Tournament honors in the fall after placing third in the Terrier Intercollegiate.
Under Smith's watch, the program has claimed each of the past two OVC Team Sportsmanship Award for women's golf, bringing the team's all-time total to an impressive eight. Additionally, the purple and gold claimed the OVC Team Academic Achievement Award for women's golf for 2022-23.
Smith became the first full-time head coach dedicated to just the women's golf team in Golden Eagle 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.
Photo by Emily Armstrong
