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On Wednesday, UAB announced that Troy native – and former Troy Trojan – Taylor Smart has been hired as the school’s newest head softball coach.

This will mark Smartt’s first solo head coaching opportunity, she previously served as co-interim head coach at Troy University in 2022.

Smartt grew up in Troy, the daughter of longtime Troy Baseball Coach Mark Smartt. Mark Smartt played college baseball at Troy – winning national championships in 1986 and 1987 – and spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Troy before serving as head coach from 2016 through 2021. Her brother, Chase, is the current head baseball coach at Charles Henderson High School.

Taylor Smartt was a member of the CHHS varsity team from her seventh grade season on, playing five different positions with the Lady Trojans. As a senior, Smartt hit .380 at shortstop and belted three home runs with 32 RBIs. She was a North/South All-Star and won South MVP, as well.

Smartt went on to sign with Troy and was a standout with the Trojans for four seasons. She ended her career with a .227 batting average in 191 starts with 62 runs, 21 doubles, five triples, three home runs, 40 RBIs and 62 runs. She also tallied 387 career putouts, 338 assists and 23 double plays on defense with a .958 fielding percentage. Smartt earned NFCA All-Region honors as a freshman and also earned NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.

Smartt began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Troy in 2015 and then spent the next seven season as a full-time coach on the staff. She was an assistant coach for six season and served as co-interim head coach in 2022 with Holly Ward.

Smartt worked primarily with the infielders on defense and hitting at Troy. A number of players set school records at the plate under Smartt and her infielders recorded a .980 fielding percentage in 2020, sixth best in the country. The Trojans went 31-21 with Smartt and Ward as co-interim head coaches in 2022.

In 2023, Smart joined the staff at Florida-Atlantic, working primarily with the defense and helping the Owls to a .974 fielding percentage as a team, which was second in the conference. FAU had the second-fewest errors in the conference, as well.

In the summer of 2023, Smart was elevated to associate head coach at FAU. She helped lead FAU to a 76-36 record during her time at the school and an NCAA regional appearance in 2024.

“I want to thank Athletic Director Mark Ingram and Deputy Athletic Director Dan Carlson for giving me the opportunity to serve as the next Head Softball Coach at UAB,” said Smartt. “I am excited to join the UAB athletic department and become a UAB Blazer. This opportunity to lead the Blazer softball program is an absolute honor and privilege and wouldn’t be possible without Beth Mullins and Jordan Clark having the confidence in me to help build their programs and develop successful young women.

“The Lord continues to open doors that have led me to this moment and I am blessed to get to wear the green and gold. I am excited to return to Alabama, the state I have grown up in and love dearly. I look forward to competing for conference championships and helping our student-athletes achieve their dreams on and off the field.”