Natasha Smith
Assistant Coach
Natasha Smith enters her first year on staff for the Highlanders in 2024-25. She comes to UC Riverside with an extensive coaching history, most recently as the head coach of San Francisco State.
Smith was named head coach for the Gators in August of 2018 and led the program for the past six seasons. During her tenure she took SFSU to the post season for the first time in over a decade, developed eight all-conference players and her teams set numerous team and individual records.
In her first season with the Gators, Smith led SFSU to its most victories since 2015-16, the most CCAA wins since the 2013-14 and the first postseason berth since 2013. Her ten wins were the third-most by a first-year head coach in program history.
Prior to joining the Gators, Smith spent two years at the University of San Francisco, serving as the top assistant coach for Head Coach Molly Goodenbour. Before joining USF, Smith was an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at Southern Oregon University where she helped the Raiders to a 33-2 record and an appearance in the NAIA Division II championship game.
Before her appointment at Southern Oregon, Smith served as an assistant on Goodenbour's staff at Cal State-Dominguez Hills for two seasons (2013-15). She helped the Toros compile a 46-17 record, which included the 2015 CCAA regular season and conference tournament championships along with berths into the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Division II Championship Tournament.
Smith began her coaching career at her alma mater Chico State where she served as an assistant coach for the 2012-13 season. That season the Wildcats reached the CCAA Tournament Championship and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Championship.
A 2013 graduate of Chico State, Smith was a four-year standout on the basketball team and ended her career as the school's all-time leader in games played. She also ranked sixth all-time in scoring, third in assists, fourth in free throws made, fifth in steals and ninth in three-pointers made.
A native of Sacramento, Smith attended Sheldon High School where she was a two-time All-Delta League selection.