Women’s basketball: Former CU Buffs standout Bianca Smith joining staff as assistant coach

Bianca Smith is returning to Boulder.

One of the top 3-pointer shooters in Colorado women’s basketball history, Smith has been hired as an assistant by head coach JR Payne. Smith, who will coach perimeter players, replaces Alex (Earl) Thomas, who is leaving for another opportunity after eight years on the staff.

Smith, who played at CU from 2006-10, becomes just the sixth former CU player to come back to the program as a full-time coach, a list that includes current Buffs assistant/director of player development Shelley Sheetz.

The others to return as coaches were Linda Lappe (head coach, 2010-16), Julie Hoehing (assistant, 1985-87), Susan Horner (assistant, 1979-83) and Jen Tubergen Warden (assistant, 1992-2002).

“We are really excited to hire Bianca and bring one of our great Buffs back to Boulder where she can impact young women in the same way that her life was impacted here as a student-athlete,” Payne expressed. “Bianca has had a tremendous amount of success as a player and coach and her passion for all things Colorado will be great for our program.”

Smith has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Lamar University. Before that, she was an assistant for four seasons at Loyola University Chicago. During her career, she has also worked at Pittsburgh, Rice and Texas Southern.

From 2006-10, Smith, a 5-foot-9 guard from Missouri City, Texas, played in 123 games for the Buffs, with 61 starts, and was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in 2009-10. She was CU’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers, with 257, until current Buffs guard Frida Formann broke that record (260) during CU’s loss to Iowa in the Sweet 16 on March 30.

Smith holds CU’s single-season record for 3-pointers with 82, a mark that Formann tied this past season. She’s also tied with several others for the most 3s in a game with seven, a mark she hit three times.

During her career, Smith scored 1,138 points, ranking 27th in CU history. She averaged 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds and has the most 3-point attempts (707) in program history. Her 3-point percentage (.364, eighth) and free throw percentage (.829, sixth) are both among the best in CU’s history.

Following her collegiate career, Smith played professionally for one season in Lithuania.