Grahm Smith was announced as the next head coach of the PBA women’s basketball program in May of 2025. In his first season back at his alma mater, Smith led the Sailfish to a seventh place finish in the SSC standings and a SSC tournament berth. The Sailfish hit their stride in conference play in Smith's first season. The Sailfish took down Tampa for the first time since 2023 and only the fifth time in program history. In the following game against Rollins, PBA had their largest margin of victory in a conference game with a 79-40 victory. The following weekend, PBA pushed the #4 team in the country, NSU Sharks to the brink and fell by a score of 82-80 in an overtime thriller. The Sailfish got a big road victory at Lynn taking down the Fighting Knights 70-67 in overtime.
The Sailfish finished the season in the SSC tournament but ultimately fell to the eventual conference tournament champion Sharks in the first round. PBA improved on the defensive side of the floor under Smith in his first year. Opponents scored 3.7 points per game less than the previous season and the scoring margin improved by 1.7 points per game. The Sailfish also improved in turnover margin, three point shooting, steals, blocks, assists, and points off turnovers. Returning players such as Anabel Ellison and Darria Whitley continued to improve and were a big part of the team. Transfers and recruits that Smith brought in, such as Breeje Schuler, Anaya Smith and Maddie Wallhoff also made impacts.
Smith, who graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic in 2008, brings a proven track record as a head coach home to West Palm Beach. Most recently, he served five seasons as the head coach at fellow NCAA Division II institution Lenoir-Rhyne. He helped lead the Bears to new heights during his tenure, notching back-to-back 20-win seasons from 2022–24—the program’s first since 2009. Those seasons resulted in a pair of NCAA tournament appearances and a South Atlantic Conference tournament championship.
During his time at LR, Smith led the program to eight top-25 wins and the best ranking in team history, going as high as No. 3 in the country. The Bears recorded the second-most conference wins in program history in 2023–24, leading to a second-place finish in the conference standings—their best since 2014. Smith leaves LR as the third-winningest coach in the history of the program.
Before Lenoir-Rhyne, Smith led the program at William Peace University from 2018–20. He guided the team to a USA South Conference regular-season championship and was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 2019–20. Smith led the Pacers to their first NCAA Division III tournament appearance in any sport in the school’s history.
Smith started as a head coach at Dean College from 2013–18. He left Dean as the winningest coach in program history after making three straight national tournament appearances. Before leading Dean’s program, Smith served as an assistant at Rockford University in Illinois while earning his master’s degree in education.
Smith began his coaching career in women’s basketball during his time at PBA. He served as a student assistant for the Sailfish women’s basketball team after his playing career was cut short due to injury. He graduated from PBA with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Dean College
| Year |
-Overall- |
-Region XXI/NECC- |
-Notes- |
| W-L |
Pct. |
W-L |
Pct. |
| 2013-14 |
17-6 |
.739 |
9-0 |
1.000 |
Region XXI Champions |
| 2014-15 |
16-7 |
.695 |
9-1 |
|
Region XXI Champions |
| 2015-16 |
24-6 |
.767 |
11-0 |
1.000 |
Region XXI Champions/District N Champions/NJCAA National Tournament Appearance |
| 2016-17 |
22-8 |
.733 |
-- |
-- |
USCAA National Tournament |
| 2017-18 |
17-10 |
.630 |
14-2 |
.875 |
NECC Regular Season Champions/USCAA Nationals Appearance |
| 5 Seasons |
96-37 |
.721 |
43-3 |
.935 |
|
William Peace
| Year |
-Overall- |
-USA South- |
-Notes- |
| W-L |
Pct. |
W-L |
Pct. |
| 2018-19 |
16-11 |
.593 |
11-5 |
.688 |
|
| 2019-20 |
23-5 |
.821 |
15-1 |
.938 |
NCAA Tournament Appearance |
| 2 Seasons |
39-16 |
.709 |
26-6 |
.813 |
|
Lenoir-Rhyne
| Year |
-Overall- |
-SAC- |
-Notes- |
| W-L |
Pct. |
W-L |
Pct. |
| 2020-21 |
6-14 |
.300 |
6-12 |
.333 |
|
| 2021-22 |
11-15 |
.423 |
10-14 |
.417 |
|
| 2022-23 |
24-8 |
.750 |
11-7 |
.611 |
NCAA Tournament Appearance/SAC Tournament Championship |
| 2023-24 |
22-9 |
.710 |
16-4 |
.800 |
NCAA Tournament Appearance |
| 2024-25 |
12-16 |
.429 |
10-14 |
.417 |
|
| 5 Seasons |
75-62 |
.547 |
53-51 |
.509 |
|
Totals
|
-Overall- |
-Conference- |
-Years- |
| W-L |
Pct. |
W-L |
Pct. |
| 12 Seasons |
210-115 |
.646 |
122-60 |
.670 |
2013-25 |
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