Doug Smith joined the UC Riverside Golf Program as assistant golf coach during the 2014-15 school year after retiring as the Highlanders Head Baseball Coach following the conclusion of the 2014 season.
Smith was initially appointed as the fourth head baseball coach in UC Riverside history in September 2004, following 25 years as the top assistant and hitting coach at his alma mater.
After 10 seasons at the helm of the Highlanders, Smith retired on June 3, 2014 with an overall record of 272-264 including a 117-117 mark in Big West competition. That includes UC Riverside’s first Big West Conference Baseball Championship in 2007 and a trip to the NCAA Regionals that same year. After the season, with a program-best conference record of 16-5 in tow, Smith was named Big West Coach of the Year.
In a collegiate career spanning nearly 2,000 games, Smith helped the Highlanders to 10 postseason appearances, including one Division II National Championship, one Big West Conference Title, and two NCAA Division I West Regional appearances.
Smith graduated from UC Riverside in 1975 with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and political science. An outstanding catcher, his senior year was highlighted by his performance in the All-Riverside Baseball Invitational Tournament, where he helped lead the Highlanders to their first-ever title and was the leading hitter at .471. Following the season he was named All-CCAA First Team.
 He and his wife, Ruthan, reside in Riverside and have two daughters, Traci and Kelly.
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