Now in her ninth season at the helm of the UT Arlington volleyball program, Janine Smith has returned the Mavericks to the upper echelon of the Southland Conference. In fact, after inheriting a program that had won just 11 matches in the season before her first in Arlington, Smith has put together a 138-117 career record in nine years at UTA.
The fifth head coach in the 28-year history of the UTA volleyball program, Smith's tenure began in 1994 with a three-year construction phase as the team posted a 39-50 record. With her system and recruits finally in place for the 1997 campaign, Smith led the Mavericks to a 19-13 record and a third-place finish in the SLC. A year later, goal number one was reached as the Mavericks won the conference title with a sparkling 19-1 record in league play and a 24-7 overall mark. That season, Smith was awarded with the Southland Conference Coach of the Year award for her accomplishments. The 2002 season made headlines again as the Mavericks rolled into the Southland Conference Tournament after winning 17 of their final 18 matches. The Mavericks, seeded fourth, defeated host Lamar in the semifinals and Stephen F. Austin in the championship match to earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Smith joined the Mavericks after serving as an assistant coach for the nationally-ranked Lady Buffs of the University of Colorado. Playing a key role in Colorado's first-ever Big Eight Conference championship, Smith was on the sidelines as the Buffs posted a 26-6 record, including a perfect 14-0 mark on their home court, and finished second to Penn State University in the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament.
As an athlete, Smith (maiden name Janine Gremmel) was regarded as one of the best players in Texas history. A member of UT's 1988 NCAA championship team, Smith ended her four-year career ranked first in digs (1,541), second in total attacks (3,424), third in kills (1,306) and sixth in service aces (137). She also posted a school-record .818 attacking percentage in a 1988 match against Baylor University.
In all, the Longhorns posted a 112-29 record, four Southwest Conference championships, four trips to the NCAA Tournament and a national championship with Smith on the roster.
In addition, she was one of the most honored volleyball players in the Southwest Conference, earning "Newcomer of the Year" recognition in 1988, second-team All-SWC in 1990 and first-team All-SWC in 1991. A three-time All-NCAA South Region selection (1989, 1990, 1991), Smith was a member of two U.S. Olympic Festival teams (1989, 1991), serving as team captain both years, and was selected as an alternate to the 1989 U.S. Junior National team.
Success at the Texas was no surprise for Smith. As a prep standout at Wahlert High School in Dubuque, Iowa, she was tabbed to the 1988 High School All-American team and was honored by Volleyball Monthly Magazine as one of the "Fabulous 50 Selections." In 1999, Smith was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Smith earned her bachelor's degree in child development and family relations from the University of Texas in 1993. Janine married Warren Smith on May 28, 1993 and has two daughters, Brooke and Natalie.
