Elizabeth Ferris Smith enters her 10th year at the helm of the UC Irvine women’s tennis program in 2025-26.
She was officially announced as the Anteaters' head coach in July, 2017. Ferris had served in that position on an interim basis in 2016-17, following the retirement of Mike Edles, who was UCI's head coach for 20 years.
In 2024-25, Ferris Smith once again guided multiple players to All-Big West honors. Kayla Meraz was the program's first second-team singles selection since 2016, while the pairing of Carolyna Fowler and Yen Nhi Huynh were also the Anteaters' first second-team doubles selection since 2016. In adition, Yen Nhi Huynh was named the Big West Player of the Week, a first for the 'Eaters in three years. Seven student-athletes were recognized as ITA Scholar Athletes, and five made the Big West All-Academic team.
In 2023-24, Ferris Smith helped Jenna Schlatter earn All-Big West Honorable Mention singles distinction for the second consecutive season. Ferris Smith added to her list of all-conference players with Carolyna Fowler and Emily Fowler placing as honorable mention doubles. Six student-athletes were recognized on the Big West All-Academic team and as ITA Scholar Athletes.
In 2022-23, Ferris Smith developed Schlatter into an All-Big West Honorable Mention singles player while boasting two Big West All-Academic team members and eight ITA Scholar Athletes.
In 2021-22, Ferris Smith coached Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico to first-team All-Big West honors. Gonzalez-Rico was also a two-time Big West Player of the Week, while she teamed up with Schlatter to receive an All-Big West honorable mention nod in doubles.
In 2018-19, Ferris Smith led the Anteaters to a 14-12 overall record including two Big West victories.Three of her players earned All-Big West accolades.
In her first official season at the helm, Ferris Smith guided a young team, which featured five freshmen, to the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament. She saw four of her players earn all-conference honors, including Stephanie Hazell, who was also an ITA Scholar Athlete.
Since she took over the program in 2017, Ferris Smith has mentored 13 All-Big West selections, 35 Big West All-Academic honorees, and 51 ITA Scholar-Athletes.
Ferris Smith was previously an assistant under Mike Edles for three seasons. In her first year on campus, UC Irvine advanced to the 2014 Big West championship match. The following campaign, the 'Eaters made it back to the semifinals. They also had seven all-conference selections in singles, along with six All-Big West doubles teams during Ferris Smith's tenure as an assistant coach.
Prior to her arrival at UC Irvine, Ferris Smith competed on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit, earning a pair of singles and doubles titles. She also played collegiately at the University of Utah, where she garnered all-conference accolades in singles all four years and was a two-time honoree in doubles. Ferris Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and education in 2009.
Ferris Smith grew up in Anaheim and prepped at Canyon High School. She was a top-20 junior player in Southern California.
