Javaria Smith’s impact on the Chattanooga-area softball scene will continue even though her days as a standout player at Soddy Daisy High School and Lee University are now in the past.
Smith, who graduated last month from the NCAA Division II school in nearby Cleveland, will put her sports management degree to good use right away as the next head coach at Hixson High School. Hixson’s administration announced Friday that she will take over the Lady Wildcats as the replacement to Rickey Ritchie, who retired.
“I always knew I wanted to coach,” Smith said. “I have taken a lot of coaching classes and always knew I wanted to give back to the game I have loved since I was 5. I knew I could offer help in some way, so why not coach?”
Smith was a four-year starter under head coach Emily Russell at Lee, which competes in the Gulf South Conference. An outfielder for the Lady Flames, Smith had a .347 career batting average with 41 doubles, 10 home runs, six triples, 137 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. Her on-base percentage was .439 as she walked 101 times while striking out 67 times.
This past spring, Smith led the Lady Flames with 47 RBIs and 30 walks while starting in all 50 games, capping a collegiate career that began with her being named the GSC freshman of the year in 2022.