When asked to think of a typical college sports coach, most people might envision a demanding tyrant.
But Coach Smith starts her practices with dance parties.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was bouncing off the walls of Solberg Court as women’s basketball head coach Mia Smith started their practice. While her athletes did their stretches, Smith talked to a pair of visitors touring the Shirk Center before walking back over to her girls and breaking out into dance. There were arms in the air, smiles, laughter and a team devoted to giving their all. Just as quickly as the dance party commenced, Coach Smith rounded the team up and prepared them for the work ahead of them.
Mia Smith has coached the Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team for 26 seasons. During that time, she was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Coach of the Year six times and brought over a dozen teams to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
For Smith, basketball is all about the respect, love and family you create within your team.
“She cares and wants to see us grow as individuals,” sophomore guard Mackenzie Huber said. “She is so passionate about the sport and every player, on and off the court.”
“She shows a genuine commitment to our long-term success,” senior guard Lauren Huber said. “Every day, she fosters a family atmosphere within the team. While she is fully committed to refining plays and scouting opponents, she invests just as much energy into creating a strong sense of family and unity among us,” she said.
Coach Smith started at Illinois Wesleyan in 1998 after four years coaching volleyball and softball at Division III Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL. Once Smith settled at Illinois Wesleyan, she knew she would never leave.
“Illinois Wesleyan offers great opportunities for coaches, and I knew I could be successful here. That was very important to me,” Smith said.
“Once I started recruiting kids and saw the incredible and brilliant athletes who wanted to come to Illinois Wesleyan, it made everyday life happy. But most importantly, Illinois Wesleyan feels like home.”
Smith also credits a great network of friends and coworkers at the Shirk Center for making Illinois Wesleyan a second home for her.
“I absolutely adore the people I work with, especially ones in my first years at Illinois Wesleyan. I have had incredible support from people like our former secretary, Gaylynn Meek, my best friend, and former athletic director Dennie Bridges. When he was at IWU, I was in his office every day talking about basketball,” she said.
In 36 seasons as men’s basketball head coach, Bridges won over 650 games, a benchmark only 21 other college coaches (regardless of division) have achieved and is the second-winningest coach, by victories, in Division III history. Meanwhile, Smith is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in IWU history, and she expects to cross the 500-win mark this season.
“The fact that I know my 500th win will come with this team will be a memory for me forever,” Smith said. “This team is so much fun. I mean, we get to start practice with dance parties. And they are working so hard. Track coach Todd Lowder has been working with them on conditioning, and these girls are poised to win,” she said. “That is really what it all comes down to. I don’t care if I win 1000 more or 100 more games. I just want to win ball games and keep our program in the top-25. Those have always been my goals.”
Following Coach Smith’s 2011 season – where her team finished 3rd in the Division III NCAA Tournament – Smith said she was offered the head coaching position at a Division I Illinois school that she declined to name. But she turned them down to stay with her 2012 IWU team.
That decision paid off for everyone. Despite starting 2-5, the Titans were National Champions by the end of the season. She knew they were a team she would be proud to coach. Coach Smith loves Illinois Wesleyan and brings earnest pride and love to every season she coaches.
And it is working. Smith has a career record of 497-207 (.706 winning percentage), a conference record of 285-100 (.740) and her athletes boasted a team grade point average of 3.584 in the 2023-2024 season, the second highest mark in the CCIW. Smith’s efforts set the women of Illinois Wesleyan basketball up for success in season and post-graduation.
“Coach Smith has been incredibly supportive in helping us prepare for life beyond school,” Lauren Huber said. “She encourages us to prioritize our future careers and aspirations. She’s flexible with practice schedules, allowing adjustments for those who need to attend career-related events or opportunities,” she said.
“Coach wants our team to value the relationships we build here and the memories we make together. She wants us to take true pride in our school, that we are Titans,” junior forward Payton Jacob said.
“Mia cares for her staff and players as people first,” assistant coach Brian Ehresman said. “One of the ways we keep things light is by starting practices with music, which sometimes turns into a whole dance party. The team even includes some oldies on the playlist just for Coach Smith. It is fun to watch some of our more reserved players loosen up and party with the team.”
Opponents may rejoice hearing Smith is taking time to party at practice, but they should not. Coach Smith is as dedicated as ever to her success on the court. Coach Smith said her team is running a brand new offense this year, which she believes will give players a chance to play more freely and show how multi-talented they are on the floor.
“Currently, Coach Smith and I are working on developing my work at post,” Epps said. “It will add a whole new dimension to my game and make me a more effective player on the court.”
Mia Smith’s impact on Illinois Wesleyan cannot be understated. Coach Smith sets her players up for successful futures on and off the court.
“This team is something that I will look back on, and it will remind me that the people around me should always be a priority,” Jacob said.
“It is an honor to work with such a legendary coach. I am giving everything to Coach Smith and my team,” first-year guard Luigi Lam said.
Coach Smith and the Titans open their season on Oct. 29, 2024, with an exhibition match against the Illinois State University RedBirds at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill.