DePaul University Athletics
It’s a Blue Demon Homecoming for Caprice Smith
9/8/2020 1:18:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Joins women’s basketball staff as new video coordinator
CHICAGO – Caprice Smith has found her way back home a dozen years after suiting up for coach Doug Bruno and his nationally renowned women's basketball program.
A few years ago, Smith had mentioned to Bruno a desire to delve into the world of coaching in college basketball.
She had already worked as an assistant coach for the powerful Montini girls basketball team that won four state championships while she was on board.
Now it was time to up the challenge.
When video coordinator Jacqui Grant moved onto an assistant coaching position with Omaha, Bruno contacted his former standout forward about the opening.
"I guess once I was officially offered the position, it took about three seconds to say yes," Smith said with a smile. "DePaul and Lincoln Park have always felt like home to me, even when I was in high school attempting to choose where I would play in college. That was really a deciding factor---that it felt comfortable and like family here.
"There have been a few changes to the coaching staff since I played here (2004-08), but everyone who is here now was around in some fashion back then. Being involved in high school girls basketball for so long (10 years at Montini), I never really lost track of them. I've even reached out to Doug over the years for guidance in different aspects of coaching and worked his camps over the summers."
Smith began her new job on Aug. 23 ready to bolster an elite college basketball staff. Having spent four years under Bruno's tutelage and knowing the DePaul system will translate well with the current Blue Demons.
"The fact I've been in their shoes helps me to relate because I know what I was feeling when I went through certain situations, or how things can be better communicated from a player perspective," Smith said.
"I always loved when we went on road trips that coach would always turn it into a history lesson so that we didn't just see the inside of airports and hotel rooms. When we played at Memphis, he took us to the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed and to Beale Street with its renowned blues clubs and restaurants.
"At a tournament in Hawaii, we experienced a private tour of Pearl Harbor and went on a dinner cruise. Things like that stress the importance of education and culture and create lasting memories."
Her memory bank is also chock full of celebrated moments on the hardwood with four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances spotlighted by the Blue Demons' run to their first Sweet 16 in program history during Smith's sophomore season.
"The Sweet 16 was one of my best basketball memories of all time, it was so special," Smith said. We were a part of history---it was so much fun!"
Bruno welcomed Smith with open arms.
"Caprice was a special team member helping lead DePaul to our first Sweet 16 back in 2006," Bruno said. "Since graduation, she has spent 11 years as an assistant coach at the legendary Montini High School program under Jason Nichols, one of the nation's most accomplished coaches who is the new women's basketball coach at Morton College.
"Montini captured four state championships in nine appearances to the state finals during her tenure. Caprice was also a valued teacher and counselor to all the girls at Montini, and coordinating video and social media were two of her prime responsibilities.
"During her last season at Montini, she began working in administration at Morton College along with being an assistant coach for their women's basketball program.
"She also spent her off-seasons coaching on the local and national travel team circuits while also serving as a valued member of our girls basketball camp the last 12 summers."
It's no wonder DePaul went 92-33 during Smith's four years playing alongside such talent as WNBA All-Star and Chicago Sky all-time leading scorer Allie Quigley and her honorable mention All-American sister Sam, three-time All-American Khara Smith, honorable mention All-Americans Deirdre Naughton and Natasha Williams along with Jenni Dant, Jenna Rubino, Felicia Chester, Missy Mitidiero and China Threatt among others.
Caprice Smith left her mark scoring 1,199 points in her career and leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots as a junior. She was a member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2004-05 and a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team member.
"It was amazing," Caprice said. "Playing with so much talent around you just makes the game fun. I learned so much from Khara, and having the opportunity to practice against her made game situations easier.
"I played AAU basketball with Allie, so I knew what she was capable of when we got to DePaul. But her game really evolved here and it was exciting to watch."
Just before her Lincoln Park reunion, Smith worked in a newly-created role last February at Morton College as Athletic Retention and Compliance Specialist. She worked to establish an open line of communication with Morton's faculty helping to identify issues with student-athletes.
After graduating DePaul in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in communications, concentrating in TV, radio and film, Smith began her high school coaching career in 2009 with the legendary Broncos.
"Montini helped mold me as a coach, and I learned what it takes to win at the high school level," Smith said. "I found out how much preparation, commitment, teamwork and strategy goes into championship caliber basketball.
"Coming in, I was attentive yet very shy and soft-spoken. But over time I began to really find my voice and confidence as a leader. Hopefully I can share and instill in our DePaul student-athletes that little things make big differences in the final outcome. Just paying a little extra attention to detail can go a long way."
And she will impart that message in her own special way.
"Some of the best assets and qualities I bring to our program are my relatability, willingness to learn, love of the game and compassion for others," Smith said. "I think that my closest friends would describe me as loyal, humble, silly, strong, supportive and dependable.
"They would say I am someone who is always there when you need me, whether to provide a hug, a laugh, be a personal cheerleader or a shoulder to lean on."
Bruno is confident Smith is ready to make an impact at the Division I level.
"Caprice has more than paid her dues in the trenches," Bruno said. "She is a proven winner and has a great future in college coaching."
A few years ago, Smith had mentioned to Bruno a desire to delve into the world of coaching in college basketball.
She had already worked as an assistant coach for the powerful Montini girls basketball team that won four state championships while she was on board.
Now it was time to up the challenge.
When video coordinator Jacqui Grant moved onto an assistant coaching position with Omaha, Bruno contacted his former standout forward about the opening.
"I guess once I was officially offered the position, it took about three seconds to say yes," Smith said with a smile. "DePaul and Lincoln Park have always felt like home to me, even when I was in high school attempting to choose where I would play in college. That was really a deciding factor---that it felt comfortable and like family here.
"There have been a few changes to the coaching staff since I played here (2004-08), but everyone who is here now was around in some fashion back then. Being involved in high school girls basketball for so long (10 years at Montini), I never really lost track of them. I've even reached out to Doug over the years for guidance in different aspects of coaching and worked his camps over the summers."
Smith began her new job on Aug. 23 ready to bolster an elite college basketball staff. Having spent four years under Bruno's tutelage and knowing the DePaul system will translate well with the current Blue Demons.
"The fact I've been in their shoes helps me to relate because I know what I was feeling when I went through certain situations, or how things can be better communicated from a player perspective," Smith said.
"I always loved when we went on road trips that coach would always turn it into a history lesson so that we didn't just see the inside of airports and hotel rooms. When we played at Memphis, he took us to the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed and to Beale Street with its renowned blues clubs and restaurants.
"At a tournament in Hawaii, we experienced a private tour of Pearl Harbor and went on a dinner cruise. Things like that stress the importance of education and culture and create lasting memories."
Her memory bank is also chock full of celebrated moments on the hardwood with four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances spotlighted by the Blue Demons' run to their first Sweet 16 in program history during Smith's sophomore season.
"The Sweet 16 was one of my best basketball memories of all time, it was so special," Smith said. We were a part of history---it was so much fun!"
Bruno welcomed Smith with open arms.
"Caprice was a special team member helping lead DePaul to our first Sweet 16 back in 2006," Bruno said. "Since graduation, she has spent 11 years as an assistant coach at the legendary Montini High School program under Jason Nichols, one of the nation's most accomplished coaches who is the new women's basketball coach at Morton College.
"Montini captured four state championships in nine appearances to the state finals during her tenure. Caprice was also a valued teacher and counselor to all the girls at Montini, and coordinating video and social media were two of her prime responsibilities.
"During her last season at Montini, she began working in administration at Morton College along with being an assistant coach for their women's basketball program.
"She also spent her off-seasons coaching on the local and national travel team circuits while also serving as a valued member of our girls basketball camp the last 12 summers."
It's no wonder DePaul went 92-33 during Smith's four years playing alongside such talent as WNBA All-Star and Chicago Sky all-time leading scorer Allie Quigley and her honorable mention All-American sister Sam, three-time All-American Khara Smith, honorable mention All-Americans Deirdre Naughton and Natasha Williams along with Jenni Dant, Jenna Rubino, Felicia Chester, Missy Mitidiero and China Threatt among others.
Caprice Smith left her mark scoring 1,199 points in her career and leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots as a junior. She was a member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2004-05 and a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team member.
"It was amazing," Caprice said. "Playing with so much talent around you just makes the game fun. I learned so much from Khara, and having the opportunity to practice against her made game situations easier.
"I played AAU basketball with Allie, so I knew what she was capable of when we got to DePaul. But her game really evolved here and it was exciting to watch."
Just before her Lincoln Park reunion, Smith worked in a newly-created role last February at Morton College as Athletic Retention and Compliance Specialist. She worked to establish an open line of communication with Morton's faculty helping to identify issues with student-athletes.
After graduating DePaul in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in communications, concentrating in TV, radio and film, Smith began her high school coaching career in 2009 with the legendary Broncos.
"Montini helped mold me as a coach, and I learned what it takes to win at the high school level," Smith said. "I found out how much preparation, commitment, teamwork and strategy goes into championship caliber basketball.
"Coming in, I was attentive yet very shy and soft-spoken. But over time I began to really find my voice and confidence as a leader. Hopefully I can share and instill in our DePaul student-athletes that little things make big differences in the final outcome. Just paying a little extra attention to detail can go a long way."
And she will impart that message in her own special way.
"Some of the best assets and qualities I bring to our program are my relatability, willingness to learn, love of the game and compassion for others," Smith said. "I think that my closest friends would describe me as loyal, humble, silly, strong, supportive and dependable.
"They would say I am someone who is always there when you need me, whether to provide a hug, a laugh, be a personal cheerleader or a shoulder to lean on."
Bruno is confident Smith is ready to make an impact at the Division I level.
"Caprice has more than paid her dues in the trenches," Bruno said. "She is a proven winner and has a great future in college coaching."
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