By Malcolm Butler
After a highly-successful collegiate playing career at Louisiana Tech and being named the Arkansas HIgh School Coach of the Year in 2023, Erica (Smith) Leak was introduced Thursday as the new head coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Leak, who led West Memphis High School to the state finals this past year for the first time since 2003, spent the past four years as the 5A east powerhouse program.
“I am thrilled to welcome Coach Leak and her family to Golden Lions Nation,” said UAPB Director of Athletics Chris Robinson. “She rose to the top of an incredibly strong group of candidates and is uniquely poised to lead our program forward.
“Her dynamic personality and extremely high-level basketball intelligence will enable her to come in and make an immediate impact. Most importantly, she truly cares about the student-athletes experience and will inspire our women to achieve greatness on and off the court.”
Leak played for a pair of Hall of Fame collegiate coaches during her days in Ruston, playing for Leon Barmore and Kurt Budke.
As a 2005 graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Leak was a 4-time Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Champion, WAC Freshman of the Year, and made an NCAA Tournament appearance all four years. She was selected 19th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.
“I am grateful to Athletic Director Chris Robinson and Chancellor Laurence Alexander for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the Golden Lion program,” said Leak. “I am excited to bring my competitive edge, energy, and winning spirit to this team and strive for success both on and off the court with my players for many years to come.”
Leak received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana Tech University in 2005 and her Master of Arts in Athletic Administration from Concordia University in 2023. She is happily married to Antonio and has five children – daughters Nia, Tyra, Laila, Demi, and a son named Jace.
