Mike Smith will be returning as head coach at California Baptist University RTS has confirmed.
Smith coached the Lancers for eights seasons between 2004-2011 building an NAIA powerhouse and winning a National Championship in 2009. He last coached between 2015-2019 turning the program at Ole Miss from the SEC bottom-dweller, to national contender. The Rebels appeared in the NCAA Postseason four straight seasons, the programs first ever NCAA appearances, and made two Super Regional appearances in 2017 and 2019. Ole Miss won the the 2017 SEC Tournament Title which was also a first in program history. Before his stint at Ole Miss, Smith spent 2011-2014 at McNeese State where he led the Cowgirls to the Southland Conference Championship in 2013 and 2014.
California Baptist will be in their last probational year in Division I as a member of the WAC in 2021-22 after making the transition from Division II. Current head coach Bill Baber, a longtime confidant and assistant of Smith, will remain on the Lancer coaching staff.