NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University Head Coach Keith Parr has announced the hiring of Morgan Smith as Assistant Softball Coach. Smith, the former Head Softball Coach at Richard Bland College of William & Mary, was a first team All-American and four-year starter while at Rowan University. Originally from Millsboro, Delaware, Smith graduated from Rowan in 2018, and was a key part of four NCAA Tournament teams with the Profs.  

"We are very fortunate to add Morgan to our coaching staff to help guide our program," Parr said. "She was a highly successful player and moved into the coaching ranks right after college...first as an assistant coach, and then as a head coach. She is excited to be a part of our program and begin working with our student-athletes, and I know her presence will help keep CNU Softball at a prominent level."

Smith became the fourth Head Coach in Richard Bland softball history, and led the program for three seasons. Her teams there advanced to two appearances in the Region 10/South Atlantic District Tournament. Previously, she began her coaching career as an assistant at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, and then spent a season as a graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Mennonite University before taking over at Richard Bland.

When Smith's outstanding playing career at Rowan concluded, she was the all-time leader in career doubles (61) and walks (89), and she holds single-season records for doubles (22) and runs batted in (62). Smith finished her career with a .389 batting average, and helped lead Rowan to the NCAA Division III Tournament in each of her four seasons. In two of those seasons, the Profs advanced to the National Championship Series.

In addition to her All-America status, Smith was an NFCA All-Region selection all four years, and was also voted to All-Regional teams four times. While at Rowan, Smith earned the Joy Solomen Leadership Award and was named to the Schutt Sports/NFCA Player of the Year watch list.

Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in General Studies at Rowan with a minor in Education. She earned a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Eastern Mennonite.

Christopher Newport finished the 2024 season with a record of 34-7 and advanced to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.