Abby Smith, a Chicago native, enters her third season as an assistant coach for the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Smith has played a vital role in UIC's past two Horizon League championship and NCAA Tournament seasons.

Smith helped guide the Flames to their ninth straight league crown and seventh consecutive NCAA bid in 2005 while playing a huge part in the development of All-League selections Corey Steven, Iris Jaklin, Molly Smith and Melanie Humphrey, as well as Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Grace Gill-Morlis.

During her first season as an assistant under Head Coach Shannon Tully, Smith helped guide the Flames to a Horizon League Championship and an NCAA berth. Smith also played a vital role in the All-League 2004 campaigns of Beatriz Cabrera, Ayca Gumuscu, Corey Steven and Iris Jaklin.

Smith, a 2003 graduate of the University of Miami (FL), competed primarily in doubles action and helped the Hurricanes advance to the second round of the NCAA Championships in 2003.

She teamed with Igna deVilliers and finished with a record of 19-11, which was the best on the squad, helping the tandem to a Top 65 NCAA season doubles ranking.

A graduate of Oak Park-River Forest H.S., Smith is a USPTA Professional Level Certified coach. She is also the Director of Special Events for the UIC Athletic Department and is currently pursuing a master's degree at UIC.