DePaul University Athletics
Ciara Johnson and Khara Smith Complete Women's Basketball Staff
10/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Oct. 27, 2010
CHICAGO - DePaul women's basketball coach Doug Bruno announced today the addition of former Blue Demon greats Ciara Johnson and Khara Smith to his staff. Johnson was promoted to director of basketball operations, while Smith takes over the role of assistant director of basketball operations.
"I am excited about having both Ciara Johnson and Khara Smith on our staff," Bruno said of his additions. "They are both already contributing greatly to an already exceptional staff of assistant coaches."
Johnson was promoted to her current role as director of operations after severing the last two seasons as the assistant director of operations.
"While Ciara Johnson is a great addition to our staff, she is no newcomer to our players, coaches, and DePaul fans," Bruno said of his former student-athlete who completed her four seasons of eligibility from 2003-08.
"Ciara was an enthusiastic and extremely competitive contributor to our success through her years at DePaul as a student-athlete; she always knew exactly what I was looking for from our team. Ciara was an extremely intelligent basketball player who always maximized her potential as a 'junk yard dog defender'.
"Ciara has also been a great contributor to our program as an assistant director of basketball operations. Ciara has worked her way up to the full-time position of director of basketball operations through sheer hard work and by going the extra mile."
Johnson handles the Blue Demons summer camps, video exchange and works closely with DePaul's coaching staff, student managers and other support staff.
One of the most decorated women's basketball players in DePaul's history -- Smith joins the Blue Demon staff as an assistant director of basketball operations.
Smith, rewrote DePaul's history books from 2002-06 and is the only player in Blue Demon history to score 2,000 career points and grab 1,300 career rebounds. A first-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2005-06, Smith led DePaul to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments including the program's only Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2006.
"Everybody knows Khara Smith as a three time All-American and one of the best players ever to play at DePaul," Bruno added.
"What people may not know is that Khara Smith is one of the most intelligent players that I have ever coached in 37 years of coaching. She is one of those players who constantly took care of the needs of her fellow teammates. Khara was always so much more than some Prima Dona All-American."
Smith, who will assist in all aspects of the Blue Demon women's basketball program, graduated from DePaul in 2006 with a degree in Sociology. She is currently working on her Masters in Community Counseling.
