Caryl Smith Gilbert

Caryl Smith Gilbert, who led the University of Southern California women to the 2018 and 2021 NCAA outdoor team championships and was the National Women’s Coach of the Year both of those seasons, was named Georgia’s Director of Track and Field on June 13, 2021.  Smith Gilbert became the first female head coach of a men’s sports program in the history of Georgia Athletics.

Smith Gilbert spent eight seasons (2014-21) as the Director of Track and Field at USC, building the program into a national powerhouse.  She guided the women’s team to a 2018 NCAA Outdoor National Championship, earning the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s (USTFCCCA) National Coach of the Year honor and being named the USATF Nike Coach of the Year. 

2x NCAA Divison 1 National Champion

USTFCCCA President

2x National Coach of the Year

Coached 8 Olympic Medalist

6x USTFCCCA West Region Coach of the Year 

5x South Region Coach of the Year

2x Pac-12 Coach of the Year 

6x Conference USA Coach of the Year

2018 Scholar Athlete Team of the Year

3x All American while running for UCLA

PAC-12 Champion while running for UCLA