Coach Audra Smith has emerged as a standout Distinguished Alumni, with her prowess on the court matched only by her commitment to cancer advocacy, community, and family. The echoes of her three consecutive State Championships in '86, 87', and '88 as well as her one-on-one showdown with '00 BHS Graduate and fellow Distinguished Alumni Tasha Butts still resonate through the gymnasiums of her memory.
"I was probably a junior in college, I believe. And Tasha was maybe about nine or ten years old. So Tasha comes up, and we're playing one on one, and she almost beat me! And so right in the middle of the one one-on-one match, I said, 'Okay, that's enough. Sit down.'" From that day forward, Smith and Butts became great friends. To the point where Smith attempted to recruit Butts while at the University of Virginia.
Smith's journey from Baldwin High School to the University of Virginia was fueled by the lessons of hard work and determination instilled by her coaches and teachers. "Nothing is given; everything is earned," she said, a mantra that propelled her to become a top student and athlete.
Post-graduation, Audra's path led her through social work and a pivotal role at the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department, where Sheriff Bill Massee became a guiding force. "This man saved me," she recalls, emphasizing his influence not just in law enforcement but in shaping her professionalism and interpersonal skills. From, there she was recruited to come back to the University of Virginia to serve as Assistant Head Coach. "During those 10 years, Anthony and I got married and had two children. And here comes 2004 and the opportunity to move to Birmingham, Alabama, and take the head job as the women's basketball coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham."
Smith's coaching career soared, with stints at prestigious institutions like the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Clemson University, and South Carolina State. A proud moment for Baldwin County, she notes, as she continued to make her hometown proud with each success.
However, her journey took a poignant turn when she joined the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a national grassroots movement founded by the legendary Coach Kay Yow. In her current role as Vice President of Play for Kay, Audra passionately champions the fight against all cancers affecting women, honoring Coach Yow's legacy and unifying the basketball community in the battle against this formidable opponent. "We have three strong prongs of our mission, which is number one, to raise research for life-enhancing and life-saving cancer drugs, also to provide resources for under-resourced women and under-resourced communities, and to unite all people in the fight against all cancers affecting women."
Smith is grateful for the unique familial spirit of Milledgeville and Baldwin County. It's a place where family connections intertwine, creating a support system that stretches beyond blood relations. Although she resides in Birmingham, she visits family in Milledgeville frequently, and still regards it as 'home'. "That's that's the beauty of Baldwin County," she said, "And that's the beauty of Milledgeville; the fact that we're all family."
