Deanna Smith

Last updated

Deanna Smith
Deanna Smith.jpg
Smith with the West Coast Waves in 2014
Bendigo Spirit
PositionAssistant coach
League WNBL
Personal information
Born (1980-12-24) 24 December 1980 (age 43)
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Listed height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Career information
Playing career1996–2016
Position Guard
Coaching career2014–present
Career history
As player:
1996 Melbourne Tigers
1997–1999 AIS
1999 Bendigo Braves
1999–2000 Canberra Capitals
2000Warrnambool Mermaids
2000–2004 Adelaide Lightning
2003–2004 South Adelaide Panthers
2004–2005 Manchester Mystics
2005 Nunawading Spectres
2005–2006 Perth Lynx
2006CAB Madeira
2006 Ballarat Miners
2007Nunawading Spectres
2008–2009 Perry Lakes Hawks
2008–2009Perth Lynx
2009–2010 Sydney Uni Flames
2010 Kilsyth Cobras
2011–2012 Geelong Supercats
2011–2012 Bendigo Spirit
2012–2015 West Coast Waves
2014–2015 Cockburn Cougars
2016Perry Lakes Hawks
As coach:
2014–2015 Cockburn Cougars
2017–2021 Perry Lakes Hawks
2022–present Bendigo Spirit (assistant)
2025– Bendigo Braves
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Deanna Smith (born 24 December 1980) is an Australian basketball coach and former player. She played the majority of her career in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), winning two WNBL championships and earning three WNBL All-Star Five honours. She also played wheelchair basketball in the Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL), becoming the first player to play in both the WNBL and WNWBL.

Contents

Early life

Smith was born in Bendigo, Victoria. [1] She represented Country Victoria at U16 (1995) and U18 (1996 and 1997) Australian Junior Championships, winning in 1996 and 1997 and captaining in 1997. She was All Australian in 1995, 1996 and 1997. [2]

Professional career

WNBL and Europe

Smith debuted in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 1996 with the Melbourne Tigers. She subsequently played the next three seasons with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she won the 1999 WNBL championship. For the 1999–2000 WNBL season, she joined the Canberra Capitals and helped the team win the championship. [3] Between 2000 and 2004, she played for the Adelaide Lightning. [3]

After a season with the Manchester Mystics in the British League, Smith joined the Perth Lynx for the 2005–06 WNBL season. [3] Following the WNBL season, she had a brief stint with Portuguese team CAB Madeira, helping them win the 2005–06 championship. [4]

Smith's next stint came in the 2008–09 WNBL season with the Lynx. [3] For the 2009–10 WNBL season, she joined the Sydney Uni Flames. [3] She was sidelined for the entire 2010–11 WNBL season before returning with the Bendigo Spirit in 2011–12. [3] She returned to Perth in 2012 and joined the West Coast Waves. [3] Having managed only half-a-dozen games in 2012–13 due to a foot fracture, Smith made just three appearances for the Waves in 2013–14 before suffering a cartilage tear in her knee. She returned to action in 2014–15. [5]

State Leagues

Smith played many seasons in the Australian State Leagues. She played for the Bendigo Braves in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 1999 and the Warrnambool Mermaids in Big V in 2000. [6] She averaged 26 points per game with Warrnambool. [7]

In 2003 and 2004, Smith won back-to-back Central ABL best and fairest awards playing for the South Adelaide Panthers. [8] [9]

Smith played in the SEABL for the Nunawading Spectres in 2005, Ballarat Miners in 2006, and again for Nunawading in 2007. [6]

In 2008 and 2009, Smith played for the Perry Lakes Hawks in the State Basketball League (SBL). In her first season, she helped the Hawks win the SBL championship behind her Grand Final MVP. She was also named SBL MVP in 2008 as well as SBL All-Star Five in 2008 and 2009. She was also SBL scoring champion both seasons. [10] [11]

Smith returned to the SEABL and played for the Kilsyth Cobras in 2010 and the Geelong Supercats in 2011 and 2012. [6] [12] She then returned to the SBL where she served as player-coach for the Cockburn Cougars in 2014 and 2015 [13] [14] before finishing with the Perry Lakes Hawks in 2016. [6] [15]

Coaching career

Smith with the Perry Lakes Hawks in 2017 Deanna Smith Hawks.jpg
Smith with the Perry Lakes Hawks in 2017

In November 2016, Smith was appointed head coach of the Perry Lakes Hawks women's team for the 2017 SBL season. [16] Four months later, she announced her retirement from playing basketball. [17] The team won the opening eight games of the season [18] as Smith guided the Hawks to the minor premiership with a 20–2 record. They went on to reach the SBL Grand Final, [19] where they defeated the Mandurah Magic 59–48 to win the championship. [20] She parted ways with the Hawks in October 2021. [21]

In October 2022, Smith was appointed an assistant coach of the Bendigo Spirit ahead of the 2022–23 WNBL season. [22] [23] She returned to the Spirit for a third season as assistant coach in 2024–25. [24]

Smith is set to serve as head coach of the Bendigo Braves women's team in the 2025 NBL1 South season. [24]

National team

Smith represented Australia in 2002 at the South East Asian Games and was an Australian Opals squad member from 2005 to 2010. [2] [25] [26]

Wheelchair basketball

Smith with the Be Active Western Stars in 2013 Sydney Basketball - Deanna Smith.JPG
Smith with the Be Active Western Stars in 2013

Smith played wheelchair basketball in the Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) with the Be Active Western Stars in 2013, [27] and the Red Dust Lady Heelers in 2017. [28] She became the first player to play in both the WNBL and WNWBL, with each WNWBL team being permitted to field a limited number of able-bodied 4.5-point players. [29] [30]

Personal life

Smith's husband, Stephen Black, is a former National Basketball League (NBL) player. [18] The couple have a son. [1] [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bendigo Braves</span> Basketball team in Bendigo, Victoria

Bendigo Braves is a NBL1 South club based in Bendigo, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Bendigo Basketball Association, the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Braves play their home games at Bendigo Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristi Harrower</span> Australian basketball player (born 1975)

Kristi Harrower is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player. She was a decorated player with the Australian Opals, winning three silver medals and one bronze medal at four Summer Olympics. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1998 to 2005 for the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx.

Fiona Mary Robinson is an Australian former basketball and handball player. She played 10 seasons in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and five seasons in the State Basketball League (SBL). She was a member of the Australia women's national basketball team that won the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Four years later, she was a member of the Australia women's national handball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Daniel Alexander Jackson is an Australian former professional basketball player who played six seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) for the Wollongong Hawks.

Kelly Louise Wilson is an Australian professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abby Bishop</span> Australian basketball player (born 1988)

Abby Bishop is an Australian professional basketball forward/center who plays for Southside Flyers of the Australian WNBL. She has played for the Australian Institute of Sport from 2005 to 2006, the Canberra Capitals from 2006 to 2010, Dandenong Rangers from 2010 to 2011 Canberra Capitals. She is currently a member of the Adelaide Lightning (2016/2017). She is a member of the Australia women's national basketball team and won a gold medal during the 2007 Oceania World Qualifications series and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tessa Lavey</span> Australian basketball player

Tessa Rose Lavey is an Australian professional basketball player for the Bendigo Spirit of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and an Australian rules football player with the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW).

Alex Brooke "Ally" Wilson is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Burton</span> Australian basketball player

Natalie Burton is an Australian basketball player and coach. She played college basketball in the United States for the West Virginia Mountaineers before beginning her career in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 2012. She played seven seasons in the WNBL and played in Germany and France in 2018 and 2019. In the NBL1 West, Burton has played for the Perry Lakes Hawks and Warwick Senators. She is a four-time NBL1 West champion, three with the Hawks and one with the Senators (2022). She helped the Senators win the NBL1 National championship in 2022 as well. She served as an assistant coach with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL between 2021 and 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nunawading Spectres</span> Melbourne-based basketball club

Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Whitehorse. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

Bradley Robbins is an Australian basketball coach and former player who is most known for his time spent in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Perth Wildcats. He currently serves as the head coach of the Warwick Senators women's team in the NBL1 West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Ciabattoni</span> Australian basketball player

Alexandra Antonietta Ciabattoni is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Rockingham Flames of the NBL1 West. She played college basketball for the Newman Jets before beginning her career in the WNBL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonia Farnworth</span> New Zealand basketball player

Antonia "Toni" Farnworth is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Ringwood Hawks of the NBL1 South. She has spent most of her career playing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in Australia and has been a long-time representative and captain of the New Zealand national team, the Tall Ferns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashleigh Isenbarger</span> Australian basketball player

Ashleigh Isenbarger is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perry Lakes Hawks of the NBL1 West.

Anneli Maley is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Perth Redbacks of the NBL1 West. She made her WNBL debut in 2016 and then spent two seasons in the United States playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and TCU Horned Frogs. With the Bendigo Spirit in 2022, she was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Schwagmeyer</span> American basketball player

Alison Renee Schwagmeyer is an American former professional basketball player. She played college basketball for the Charleston Southern Buccaneers and the Quincy Hawks before playing in Germany, Australia, Romania, Spain, and Serbia. In Australia, she helped the Lakeside Lightning win the SBL championship in 2018 and earned three consecutive SBL Most Valuable Player awards. She also played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the Perth Lynx, Sydney Uni Flames and UC Capitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Petrik</span> Australian basketball coach (born 1981)

Ryan Petrik is an Australian basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Prior to becoming head coach of the Lynx in 2020, Petrik led the Rockingham Flames women's team in the State Basketball League (SBL) to two championships in 2014 and 2015 and earned SBL Coach of the Year honours in 2012. Between 2015 and 2020, he served as an assistant coach with the Lynx, and between 2019 and 2024, he served as head coach of the Flames men's team. In 2022, he was named the WNBL Coach of the Year and guided the Flames men to the NBL1 West championship and NBL1 National championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megan McKay</span> Australian basketball player

Megan Ann McKay is an Australian professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleur McIntyre</span> Australian basketball player and coach

Fleur McIntyre is an Australian basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant general manager of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played 15 seasons in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Cockburn Cougars, where towards the end of her playing career she began coaching as well, serving as head coach of the Cougars women's team in 2010 and 2011. In 2021, she joined the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL) as an assistant coach, where she won two NBL championships in 2022 and 2023.

Melissa Sinfield is an Australian former professional basketball player. She played 13 seasons in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), including 11 with the Perth Breakers/Lynx. She also played in the State Basketball League (SBL), where she won five championships with the Perry Lakes Hawks.

References

  1. 1 2 Bourke, Adam (18 November 2021). "Former NBL star appointed Bendigo Braves' coach" . bendigoadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2024. Deanna Black, nee Smith, was born in Bendigo and played for the Bendigo Spirit and Bendigo Braves during an impressive professional career that included stints in Europe and international duties with the Australian Opals.
  2. 1 2 "Deanna Smith Profile". FIBA. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Deanna Smith". WNBL. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Deanna Smith". fpb.pt. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024.
  5. ↑ Fit-again veteran Deanna Smith set to revitalise West Coast Waves
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Deanna Smith" . australiabasket.com. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "2000 VBL & Big V". bigv.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Halls Medal
  9. ↑ Nagy, Boti (8 December 2012). "Deanna Smith riding out injury with her Waves". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "2008 SBL season". sbl.asn.au. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "2009 SBL Award Winners". SBL.asn.au. 11 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017.
  12. ↑ DEANNA SMITH SIGNS WITH SUPERCATS WOMEN
  13. ↑ "Doccy' finding her feet as a coach at Cockburn". SBL. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Deanna Smith". hawksbasketball.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024.
  15. ↑ Deanna Smith signs with the Lady Hawks
  16. ↑ DEANNA SMITH takes over as Head Coach of the Lady Hawks
  17. ↑ Deanna (Doccy ) Smith officially retires as a player
  18. 1 2 'Doccy' adjusting well to life as a coach after glittering career
  19. ↑ "SMITH FOCUSES ON BUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP BELIEF IN HAWKS PLAYERS". SBL.asn.au. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "FARNWORTH INSPIRES PERRY LAKES TO SEVENTH WOMEN'S SBL CHAMPIONSHIP". SBL.asn.au. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "PERRY LAKES HAWKS THANK DEANNA BLACK". hawksbasketball.com.au. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Bendigo (26 October 2022). "BENDIGO COACHING STAFF CONFIRMED". wnbl.basketball/bendigo. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Coaches". wnbl.basketball/bendigo. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  24. 1 2 "BRAVES: Deanna Black honoured to be coaching her hometown's women's team". Bendigo Advertiser. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "AUS - 2009 Opals squad named". fiba.basketball. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  26. ↑ "Deanna Smith". Basketball Australia. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
  27. ↑ "From Waves To Wheels: Deanna Smith Joins The WNWBL". Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  28. ↑ "Season Preview: Red Dust Lady Heelers". Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "WNBL STAR TO MAKE WNWBL DEBUT". Basketball Australia . 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Classification". WNWBL . Archived from the original on 3 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "DEANNA BLACK CELEBRATES HER FIRST MOTHER'S DAY AND SHARES HER THOUGHTS". hawksbasketball.com.au. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.