Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
High School: Baylor
Education
1. BA in History- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2. MeD in Curriculum and Instruction- Lincoln Memorial University
Playing Career
Coach Smith played shortstop on Baylor's state championship teams in 1993 and 1994. She was a 3 time Best of Preps selection for basketball, 2 time selection for softball. In 1995, Kelli was awarded All-State honors in softball and basketball both. She was voted "Most Outstanding Athlete" , "Best All Around Athlete", and the recipient of the "Scrappy Moore Award" her senior year. Kelli went on to play college softball at Georgia Tech where she started every game as a freshman.
Coaching Career
Coach Smith has coached the Raiders to 14 State Championships, and 2 State Runner-Up finishes. Coach Smith was awarded the Best of Preps "Coach of the Year" in 2011, the same year she was inducted into the Baylor Sport's Hall of Fame. She has been awarded the AF Bridges TSSAA Sportsmanship award 3 times as a coach. In 2019 she was awarded the Extra-Innings Softball National Coach of the Year, and in 2023 she was awarded the NFHS National Coach of the Year. In 2022 she was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Hall of Fame. She has been named as the TSSAA "Coach of the Year" in 2003, 2004, 2005. Coach Smith has coached over 40 players who received college scholarships to play softball.
Personal
Coach Smith has 2 children; Luke and Logan.
