Charmin Smith

Contributions and Distinctions

Charmin Smith is the first Black head coach of Cal Women’s Basketball, leading the team to NCAA Tournament appearances, a Top 25 national ranking, and program records for wins and home victories. Known as a mentor and advocate for women athletes, she develops players for professional opportunities and recruits top talent, including McDonald’s All-Americans. She serves on the WBCA Board of Directors and co-chairs its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Charmin has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Figures in Women’s College Basketball in 2020, 2024, and 2025.

Biographical Sketch  

Charmin Smith (1975–present) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to California to attend Stanford University, where she earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering. As a student-athlete, she helped lead Stanford to three Pac-10 titles and three NCAA Final Four appearances. Smith went on to play professionally in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and Phoenix Mercury, as well as internationally in Sweden.

She began coaching as an assistant at Boston College and Stanford before becoming head coach of Cal Women’s Basketball in 2019. Smith has guided the Bears to record-breaking seasons, postseason success, and developed multiple All-Americans and WNBA draftees. Reflecting on her time at Berkeley, Smith has said, “I’m most proud of my tenure and being in one place, investing in the student-athletes here at Berkeley, getting better every year, and leading the women’s basketball program.” She has also spoken about the broader impact she hopes to have through her leadership, explaining, “I hope people see me as someone who pours into others and tries to help the university and community be better, especially during pivotal moments in our country, using my platform to raise the bar, continue conversations around social change, and bring attention to issues that really matter.” Central to Smith’s legacy is her commitment to helping young women develop into the best versions of their authentic selves, both as athletes and as people, while using sport as the driver for leadership, inclusion, and social justice.