Smith joined the Black Bears in July of 2023.
Smith, a 2015 graduate of the University of Michigan, joins Babineau's staff with over seven years of high level coaching experience. During her most recent stint at Providence College from July of 2021 through May of 2023, Smith helped coach and develop a pair of All-Big East and All-Region players. She assisted the head coach of Providence in all aspects of coaching, recruiting and alumni outreach and she was the lead on-field coach for defensive strategies for the Friars. Smith is also on the NFHCA Award Committee and the NFHCA Northeast All-Region/All-American Committee.
Prior to joining Providence, Smith served as the assistant coach at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, where she helped develop five All-PSAC players and three All-Americans in 2019.
In 2018, Smith served as the assistant coach at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. During her single season at Colby, she helped lead the program to its first NESCAC Tournament appearance in five years. She also helped develop three All-NESCAC players, three All-Region Players and one All-American.
Smith began her coaching career in July of 2016 as a member of the Middlebury College program. During her nearly two-year stint at Middlebury, she helped lead the program to being the 2017 NCAA DIII National Champions and the NESCAC Champions. She was a member of the 2017 National and Regional Coaching Staff of the Year. In her two seasons, she helped develop seven All-NESCAC players, seven All-Region players, five All-Americans and the NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2017.
During her playing career, Smith was a USA Field Hockey U16 National Team Member, a two-time Big Ten Champion, a two-time All-BigTen Conference Player, a two-time NFHCA All-West Regional Player, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten member and a team captain during her time at Michigan.
"We are very excited to have Leslie join our coaching staff," head coach Josette Babineau states. "Her strong coaching and playing background will be a tremendous help to our players. We are thrilled to have a coach of her experience level, and talent join our Black Bear program!"
