University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Kirk Meche
T&F’s Smith Gilbert Named USTFCCCA National Coach Of The Year
March 23, 2026 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia Direction of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Women's Coach of the Year, according to a USTFCCCA announcement Monday.
This marks Smith Gilbert's first honor of this kind indoors and the school's second (2018). Smith Gilbert garnered National Women's Coach of the Year outdoors in 2018, 2021 (first two at USC) and 2025. In addition, she was named the 2026 South Region Women's Coach of the Year while Karim Abdel Wahab (Women's Assistant Coach of the Year) and redshirt freshman sprinter Adaejah Hodge (Women's Track Athlete of the Year) garnered honors at the regional level.
Smith Gilbert led Georgia to the 2026 NCAA indoor team title thanks to 53 points scored on March 13-14. This indoor season, she had the NCAA 200-meter dash and 400m champions as well as 10 other First-Team All-Americans, including the runner-up 4x400m relay squad. Smith Gilbert had the national leader in the 200m going into NCAAs before Hodge improved her own finish to a record-breaking 22.22 in the national championship final.
Up Next: Georgia will travel to Miami, Fla., for this weekend's Hurricane Collegiate Invite. UGA opened its outdoor season this past weekend with small group of distance runners competing at the Yellow Jacket Invite in Atlanta.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' indoor and outdoor seasons will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
This marks Smith Gilbert's first honor of this kind indoors and the school's second (2018). Smith Gilbert garnered National Women's Coach of the Year outdoors in 2018, 2021 (first two at USC) and 2025. In addition, she was named the 2026 South Region Women's Coach of the Year while Karim Abdel Wahab (Women's Assistant Coach of the Year) and redshirt freshman sprinter Adaejah Hodge (Women's Track Athlete of the Year) garnered honors at the regional level.
Smith Gilbert led Georgia to the 2026 NCAA indoor team title thanks to 53 points scored on March 13-14. This indoor season, she had the NCAA 200-meter dash and 400m champions as well as 10 other First-Team All-Americans, including the runner-up 4x400m relay squad. Smith Gilbert had the national leader in the 200m going into NCAAs before Hodge improved her own finish to a record-breaking 22.22 in the national championship final.
Up Next: Georgia will travel to Miami, Fla., for this weekend's Hurricane Collegiate Invite. UGA opened its outdoor season this past weekend with small group of distance runners competing at the Yellow Jacket Invite in Atlanta.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' indoor and outdoor seasons will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & FieldGeorgia Track & Field: Dejanea Oakley - Indoor NCAAs Post Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Georgia Track & Field: Adaejah Hodge - Indoor NCAAs Post Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Georgia Track & Field: Coach Caryl Smith Gilbert - Indoor NCAAs Post Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Georgia Track & Field: Adaejah Hodge - Indoor NCAAs Pre Meet Press Conference
Friday, March 13