The search to find the next Dartmouth College softball coach came to an end last week, as Hillary Smith was tabbed to lead the program into the future.
Smith, who most recently was the head softball coach at Quinnipiac University, replaces Jen Williams, who started as head coach in 2019, finished with a 99-145 overall record and a 62-62 conference record before resigning in May.
“From the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel that Dartmouth is a truly special place,” Smith said in a news release from the college.
“I look forward to building upon the foundation already in place and working with an outstanding group of student-athletes. The future is bright, and I cannot wait to get started.”
Smith, who the Bobcats hired in the summer of 2018, led the program to a 24-21 overall and 16-12 conference record this past season. It was the first winning season for the Bobcats since 2012, and those 16 conference wins were a program high for the regular season.
In addition to her head coaching gig at Quinnipiac, she has served as an assistant coach at Florida International University and the University of Central Florida, her alma mater, where she also played softball.
“We looked for a coach who would help our student-athletes reach their full potential as people and as athletes and has a clear vision and plan for building a program that lasts, and we have found that in Hillary,” said Dartmouth athletic director Mike Harrity in the release.
Smith will be tasked with leading a program that went 10-23 overall and 7-13 in conference play this past season. The Big Green’s most recent winning season came in 2024 when they finished 18-17 overall and 13-7 in conference play and made their first Ivy League tournament appearance.
