Javaria Smith loved the game of softball when she was only five years old. She carried that love for the sport and for her teammates through four standout years at Soddy-Daisy High School. Her play was more than enough to earn scholarship aid to Lee University.
Many college careers for athletes end after only one year. The classroom work required more time. Demands on the playing field are more serious than high school and individual physical workouts are a major part of the package. Yet, Smith love for the game and work grew even deeper.
Lee Coach Emily Russell was not surprised when she received news that Javaria Smith had been hired as the new softball coach at Hixson High School.
“I’m thrilled for Javaria and Hixson High School,” explained the veteran coach. “Javariawill invest the time and energy into the program and the results will be evident quickly. She is a diligent worker and will put in the effort needed to take the program where it needs to be. She does not shy away from tedious work and is a great team player.
“Even though she was a standout player her strongest desire was to make the team better. Javaria will be that kind of coach. She was a special player, very talented and with a lot of athletic ability but she loved working and putting in the time,” Russell noted.
The Lee softball coach added one major factor that is a key point in helping Javaria and other Lee athletes land jobs. “I love the sport management major. It has launched several of our players into the sports industry. Having strong and capable women leading on that front with Dr. Lynda Bowers and Jessica McIntyre is a testament to our university’s commitment to creating first class education.”
Lee Athletic Director John Maupin praised Javaria, “We are so proud of the career that Javaria enjoyed at Lee University, both on the softball field and in the classroom. There is no question it has her well prepared to begin her coaching career, and it will also be in our area! We will be excited to follow Javaria and her new team next season.”
Smith also said she was not surprised at being named a head coach fresh out of college. “I am not going to say I was “surprised,” but I am very blessed to have an opportunity that most people my age does not get,” she confessed. “I did not know where I would land after Lee, but I knew I would be coaching somewhere.”
Moving into her first year as a head coach, Smith said she would take the family aspect and environment learned from her four years at Lee. “The sense and feel of community were a big reason I enjoyed my time there so much. I will always put that first when I am coaching,”
The gifted athlete does not say much about her individual accomplishments over her four college years, but posting a brief list would certainly be fitting. She began her college career with a bang and was named GSC Freshman of the Year. Javaria was a two-time member of the All-GSC Team and a three-time member of the GSC Honor Roll. She had a .347-career batting average with 41 doubles, 137 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases. She drew 101 free passes and fanned only 67 times in four seasons.
Smith enjoyed talking about her hitting. “I have always been a hitter. I loved figuring out different ways to change my swing to be more consistent in the box. One of my favorite things about softball is trying to figure out what form or swing works best for different people because everybody can play different and still have the same results.”
She wasted no time in singling out her parents, Jarvis and Jessica Smith. “They have had the most influence in helping me reach this point in my career. They were there from the beginning of my softball journey, from ages 5-21. They took me to every practice and game and rarely missed a home game at Lee,” she stressed. “Their love and support helped me be successful in the sport that I love. They made sure I had everything I needed to be successful in the softball world, and they continue to do it in the real world.”
She turned her attention toward her first softball team and how to reach goals. Coach Rickey Ritchie was Smith’s coach at Soddy Daisy and is retiring after guiding Hixson’s Lady Wildcats for four seasons.
“It appears Coach Richie did a good job of turning the program around before he retired,” Smith related. “My major goals are to establish relationships with my players and win ball games. Coach Richie did an excellent job turning the program around. I plan to build on the foundation he laid over the last few years.”
The dead period established by the TSSAA has ended, and coaches are allowed to go back to work. The new Hixson will take advantage and will work with some returning players before holding tryouts when classes begin.
Like big-time boxing and wrestling announcer would say:
“Let the Javaria Smith coaching career begin!”