Softball
Coaching Staff

Nicole Smith is ready for her second season with the Tiger softball team, having led the team to a 26-12 in her first year.

She led the Tigers to their third straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship last season, defeating Centre 2-0 in the conference title game.  The win also put Trinity in the NCAA playoffs, and the Tigers finished 1-2 at the regional tournament in Pineville, Louisiana.

Coach Smith was a standout player for Trinity from 1997 through 2000. The talented infielder was elected to the All-SCAC First Teams in 1999 and 2000, as well as to the All-Region Second Team in 2000.

As captain and an infielder, Coach Smith helped lead the Tigers team to two back-to-back SCAC titles in 1999 and 2000. Trinity also made its first-ever NCAA Division III tournament appearance in 2000.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Trinity in 2000 and a Master of Education in sports administration from the University of Houston in 2005.

Coach Smith, a native of Sugar Land, Texas (Elkins), had been an assistant for the past five years with Houston. She was responsible for infield defense and offensive strategies for the Cougars, who amassed a record of 150-96 and earned an NCAA Division I postseason appearance.

The versatile Coach Smith worked for the San Antonio Sports Foundation during her senior year at Trinity, serving in a number of capacities. She assisted on a variety of projects, including the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Final Four events.

The Tigers have won six SCAC titles and played in five NCAA tournaments since 1999, the first year the conference recognized softball as a championship sport.

Coach Smith was married to Tim Smith this past summer in San Antonio.

Jaci Barrientes begins her first season as the Tigers assistant softball coach.

Coach Barrientes comes to the Trinity campus from nearby Incarnate Word High School, where she served for two years as the head softball and junior varsity volleyball coach. The Shamrocks softball team advanced to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state semifinals, after capturing the District 2-6A championship.

An English teacher at San Antonio’s St. Paul’s Catholic School, coach Barrientes also coached the Alamo Volleyball Club Team.

Coach Barrientes earned the Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and exercise science from the University of Houston in 2006.

She competed in softball – as a player for Trinity coach Nicole Smith, an assistant at the time for the Cougars – and in volleyball.

Coach Barrientes received recognition as a member of the Conference USA Softball All-Tournament Team and was Academic Most Valuable Player. She also was elected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.

Her prowess in volleyball also earned accolades. Coach Barrientes was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American, as well as being selected for the Conference USA First Team.

The talented coach Barrientes received the University of Houston Distinguished Senior Award and was the Cougars’ Female Athlete of the Year.

An outstanding student-athlete, coach Barrientes made the Dean’s List for six semesters and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Coach Barrientes’ excellence in the classroom and athletics endeavors earned her a slot on ESPN The Magazine’s Academic District VI Volleyball First Team in 2005 and Softball First Team in 2006.