Emiko Smith was hired in November 2019 as an assistant coach of the New York University women’s basketball program. Her main responsibilities with the Violets include point-guard instruction, in-game strategy and administrative duties as needed.
In 2022-23, the Violets reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and won the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship for the second consecutive season. NYU opened the season with 11 straight wins and was ranked #1 in the nation by D3hoops.com and #2 by the WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association).
After dropping two games, the Violets went on a 14-game winning streak before falling to host Transylvania University in the Elite Eight.
Nationally, the Violet finished fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.27) and blocks per game (6.5), ninth in scoring margin (21.5), 12th in field goal percentage (44.52) and turnovers per game (12.9), 13th in winning percentage (89.3), and 16th in both scoring (75.7) and three-point percentage (33.9).
Several players received numerous accolades. Natalie Bruns was named a WBCA All-American, D3hoops.com Region 4 Most Outstanding Player and First Team All-American, UAA Player of the Year, and First Team All-Met. Belle Pellechia was selected WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, UAA Defensive Player of the Year, D3hoops.com Region 4 First Team, and Second Team All-UAA and All-Met. Jenny Walker earned All-UAA and All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Second Team honors, while Caroline Peper was named both UAA and D3hoops.com Region 4 Rookie of the Year.
The Violets produced one of the great seasons in program history in 2021-22, going 25-2 overall, winning the UAA Championship with a near-perfect 13-1 record, and advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. NYU ranked among the nation’s leaders with a .926 winning percentage (tied for 7th),44.8 field goal percentage (8th), 5.6 blocks per game (tied for 11th),74.8 free throw percentage (12th), 150 blocks (tied for 13th), +20.4 scoring margin (14th, 77.6-57.3), and 33.8 three-point percentage (18th).
For their efforts, Smith and the team’s coaches were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
Individually, Walker was selected UAA and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Year while also earning D3hoops.com Fifth Team All-America honors and First Team All-Met accolades. Pellecchia was named D3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year, UAA and ECAC Rookie of the Year, UAA Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-UAA, and Second Team All-Met. Both Bruns and Jordan Janowski were Second Team All-UAA selections
NYU did not compete in 2020-21 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In Smith’s first season, the Violets posted a 21-6 overall record and a second-place, 10-4 finish in the UAA. NYU qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, defeating Emmanuel College in the first round before falling to host Bowdoin College in the second.
That squad broke several team records, including most three-pointers made (17) and attempted (41) in a game and in a season (275, 781), highest one-season free throw percentage (76.5) and three-point percentage (35.2). Individually, point guard Annie Barrett set the Violets’ one-season (202) and career (435) assists records, while Brooklyn Shelton led NCAA Division III and set NYU’s one-season free throw percentage record (.992).
Numerous awards were achieved by the players, as Janean Cuffee was selected the MBWA Division III Player of the Year, D3hoops.com First Team All-East Region, First Team All-UAA, All-ECAC First Team, and NYU’s Female Junior Scholar Athlete of the Year. Barrett received UAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team honors, as well as D3hoops.com Second Team All-East Region, All-ECAC Honorable Mention and Third Team All-Met accolades. Jenny Walker was also a Second Team All-UAA selection.
Smith joined NYU with extensive basketball playing and coaching experience.
A four-year member of the University of Denver basketball team, Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management in 2013. She is still Denver’s all-time leader in career assists (725) and is tied for most games played (124).
While obtaining her Master of Business Administration from Boston College in 2016, Smith served as a Graduate Assistant Coach of the Golden Eagles’ women’s basketball program. She also played professionally with the Basketball Club Pharmaserv Marburg in Marburg, Germany, during the 2013-14 season, when she also served as a co-captain.
A native of Los Angeles, CA, Smith resides in Manhattan.
