Caryl Smith-Gilbert
American track and field coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caryl Smith-Gilbert (born April 19, 1969) is American track and field coach and former athlete. She is the director of men's and women's track and field at the University of Georgia.[1] She was hired in 2021.[2] She coaches both the women's and men's Georgia track teams and is the first female head coach of a Georgia men's team.[3][4]
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Georgia |
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | April 19, 1969 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1987–1991 | UCLA |
| Positions | 100 m, 200 m |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1994–1997 | George Washington HS (CO) |
| 1998–1999 | Penn State (assistant) |
| 2000–2002 | Alabama (assistant) |
| 2003–2007 | Tennessee (assistant) |
| 2008–2013 | UCF |
| 2014–2021 | USC |
| 2022–present | Georgia |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
As a head coach:
As an athlete:
| |
| Awards | |
| |
Early life
As a 12-year old, Smith-Gilbert ran the 100 meter dash in 11.78 seconds. She was a silver medalist in the 100 meter dash at the World Junior Championships in 1986.[5]
During her high school career, Smith-Gilbert set indoor national records in the 55- and 60-meter dashes and was a two-time Colorado state champion in both the 200-meter dash and the long jump as well as a three-time 100-meter dash state champion. She also set the Colorado state high school records in all three of those events.[6]
At UCLA, Smith-Gilbert was a three-time All-American at UCLA (4×100-meter relay in 1988 and 1989), and won individual and relay Pac-10 championships in the 100-meter dash, 4×100-meter relay and the 4×400 meter relay. As a member of the 4x400 meter relay, her team finished as an NCAA Championship runner-up in 1988 and 1989.[6]
Smith Gilbert earned a bachelor’s degree in film and television production from UCLA in 1991 and a master’s degrees in sport management and sport psychology from the University of Tennessee.[6]
Coaching career
Smith-Gilbert coached the USC Women's Track & Field team to two NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship titles in 2018 and 2021 and the UGA Women's Track & Field team to the 2025 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship title.[3][7][8][9]
Athletes coached by Smith-Gilbert include Anglerne Annelus,[10] Matthew Boling,[11] Afia Charles, Sole Frederick,[12] Sanaa Frederick,[12] Christopher Morales Williams,[13] as well as Olympic Gold Medalists Rai Benjamin, Aaliyah Butler, Michael Norman and DeeDee Trotter.[6][14]
Smith-Gilbert was named the SEC Women’s Coach of the Year in 2025[15] and became the first coach to win the women’s NCAA outdoor title at two different schools with the 2025 UGA championship.[16]
Smith-Gilbert was the president of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) board of directors with a term that ended on December 20th, 2025.[17] She also was honored by the USTFCCCA as the 2026 National Women's Coach of the Year.[18]
Personal life
Smith-Gilbert is married to Greg Gilbert, a retired NFL linebacker, and the couple has three sons.[6]