Fran Smith came to Bridgewater College as the swimming program's first head coach and is beginning her sixth year at the helm of the program.

This past season, Smith's Eagles defeated Sweet Briar for the first time in program history and finished in fourth place at the conference championship meet. 

During her time with the program, Smith has coached four all-conference swimmers, including second-team selection Carrie Crowther in 2010-11 and honorable mention selection Shannon Myers in 2011-12. 

Smith has been involved with the area swim scene for the past 15 years. She coached a summer league team for nearly two decades and won five league championships.

She became the first head coach of the Turner Ashby High School swim team in 2004. At Turner Ashby, she has had at least five swimmers qualify for the state championship meet in each of the past three years. In 2006, she coached the men's 50-yard freestyle state champion.

Smith also was a teacher in the Rockingham Public Schools.

Smith graduated from Turner Ashby High School in 1971 and then attended James Madison University where she graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical and Health Education K-12.