Collinsville slugger goes from Kahok to NCAA Woman of the Year nominee

One of the premier power-hitters in the Sun Belt Conference for the past three years, Coastal Carolina University senior Kassidy Smith was looking forward to her final season in the middle of the Chanticleers lineup.

A 2016 Collinsville High School graduate, Smith entered her senior year fourth on the Chanticleers career list with 38 home runs and was hoping to pass Holly Lee’s mark of 44 and finish in the school’s top three.

But her record run was stopped short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This season was very difficult for me to handle and not being able to complete my senior year,” she said. “When you are little and even when you are a freshman in college you can never really imagine a day when your softball career will end, especially because of a world-wide pandemic.”

Graduating in May with her bachelor’s degree in biology and a double minor in chemistry and psychology, Smith has been selected as Coastal Carolina’s nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year award..

Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

Nominees are from all three NCAA Divisions and come from 24 different sports. A total of 605 athletes have been nominated for the award. The winner will be announced in the fall.

‘Humbled and honored’

Smith 21, was notified she had been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year earlier this spring. Her contributions to Coastal Carolina University and the Conway, S.C area go well beyond the softball field.

As a student, Smith held a a 3.662-grade point average in biology, making the dean’s list four times and earning NFCA Academic All-American recognition in 2017-18. She served as the president of Coastal Carolina’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was Coastal’s SAAC representative for the Sun Belt Conference.

Smith also worked with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Miracle League, while also volunteering her time for causes such as Caring for Kindergartners, The Shepard’s Table, Coastal SAAC Hurricane Harvey Food/Necessities Drive, and Adopt-A-Chant.

Smith has been much more than just a student-athlete at Coastal Carolina; the former Kahok has been a leader and a role model.

“I’ve always enjoyed being involved and helping people,’’ Smith said. “I was surprised when I was notified that I was being nominated for such a prestigious award.. I am humbled and so honored to be Coastal Carolina University’s representative.’’

A three-time all-Southwestern Conference catcher and infielder who went on to earn all-state recognition, Smith hit a school record 30 home runs during her Kahoks career, including 12 as sophomore in 2014. But those who have followed Smith’s career should not be surprised, said her high school’s athletic director.

“Kassidy is a hard working, caring, and humble athlete. Watching her grow and succeed in her career has been fantastic,’’ Collinsville athletic director Clay Smith. “She is very deserving of this award and Kahok Nation could not be more proud of her.”

From Kahok to Chanticleer

Smith had college offers from SIU Edwardsville, McKendree and Northern Illinois but after visiting Coastal Carolina, there was no doubt that she was going to be a Chanticleer.

“The coaches saw me play in a tournament and had me come down for a visit. You know how when you visit someplace and you feel this is where I’m meant to be? That’s how I felt when I got here,’’ Smith said. “It is a long way from home and I’m very close to my family, but I think being able to do things with the softball team every day helped me from getting homesick.”

Smith was an impact offensive player from the outset. As a freshman, the 5-11 slugger belted 11 home runs, then added 11 more as a sophomore.

A two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week during her career, Smith hammered a career high 15 home runs and drove in 37 RBI as a junior a year ago when she batted .265.

What’s on deck?

Smith had planned on attending medical school after graduating, but instead has decided to become a physicians assistant so she can continue her involvement with softball. She is back in the metro east, helping to coach a traveling team based in Collinsvile.

“I want to be able to give back,’’ Smith said. “ To help young softball players to reach whatever level of play they want to achieve and be a positive role model for them as my coaches were for me growing up.’’

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Sun Belt Conference, like many major NCAA Division I leagues, granted its spring student-athletes another season to compete should they desire.

Smith has chosen not too.

“I did have the option of going back and playing another year because of the virus. But logistically, with the classes I would have to take for PA school and just being so far from home, it just really didn’t make sense,’’ she said. “Plus, I felt like I was ready for that next step, the next chapter in my life.

“I’m really hoping to stay involved and to be able to coach softball because its always been such a big part of my life.’’

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 5:00 AM.

Dean Criddle

Belleville News-Democrat

618-239-2661

Dean Criddle has been a reporter at the Belleville News-Democrat for more than 32 years and currently covers public safety . The SIUE graduate was elected in 2020 to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame as a sports writer. Dean is married and lives in Belleville.