At the IHSA Class 3A girls basketball state finals at Illinois State University in March, Trinity High School enjoyed tremendous support from fans rooting on the Blazers in the program’s fourth downstate appearance, the first in 10 years.
Among those watching was Trinity alum Caprice Smith, Class of 2004. In an interview with Wednesday Journal, she said being at ISU brought back fond memories.
“I sat right behind the bench. It was definitely a cool moment,” Smith said. “They hadn’t been there in a while, so it was exciting being able to go down and cheer the girls on a little bit.”
Smith was one of the top players on the first Trinity team to reach state, which happened in the 2002-03 season. Under the guidance of head coach Jason Nichols, the Blazers went 27-8 and reached the Class AA quarterfinals. Smith was Trinity’s leading scorer, averaging 21.5 points per game.
“A lot of memories,” said Smith of that season. “It was great being there for the first time in school history. We had a police escort from campus to the expressway. I remember it all.”
Smith credits Nichols for the Blazers’ success. She said he was demanding and asked a lot of his players but also added that he was the perfect coach for her team.
“He pushed you and expected a lot,” Smith said, “but he was a motivator. He saw talent and pushed us to where we needed to be. He did a great job bringing us all together and was really a force.”
Following her graduation from Trinity, Smith played collegiately at DePaul University from 2004 to 2008 under legendary coach Doug Bruno. She helped the Blue Demons reach the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons, including the program’s first-ever advancement to the Sweet Sixteen in 2005-06.
Smith scored 1,199 points in her DePaul career and made the All-Big East Team in 2006-07; she also led the team in rebounds and blocked shots that season. Moreover, Smith excelled in the classroom, making the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in her freshman year and the Big East All-Academic Team her final three seasons.
“Doug is great. He has a wealth of knowledge,” Smith said of playing for Bruno. “He saw the best in you and wanted to get it out. He wasn’t just a basketball coach, he was a teacher. Everyone wants to learn strategies, but they don’t want to learn the game, and Doug was a true teacher of the game.”
Smith had designs on continuing her playing career overseas, but nagging injuries, along with a call from Nichols, who was coaching Montini Catholic at the time, changed everything.
“I had no idea I was going to be a coach,” she said. “Jason called me and said he had a couple of 6-4 incoming freshmen he wanted me to work with. I went up to Montini one day and worked them out. I really enjoyed doing it and wound up joining his staff.”
Smith served as an assistant coach under Nichols for 11 seasons. Together, they helped lead the Broncos to four 3A state titles, including a three-peat from 2009-10 through 2011-12, and nine state trophies overall.
In 2020, Smith returned to DePaul and became video coordinator for Bruno. Two years later, she rejoined the coaching ranks as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois Chicago for head coach and Oak Park native Ashleen Bracey.
“It was a great learning and growing experience,” said Smith of UIC. “Prior to that, I’d only coached at the high school level, and it was great to learn under someone with great experience in Ashleen.”
Last month, Smith joined Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville as assistant coach for Samantha Quigley Smith. The opportunity to reunite with one of her DePaul teammates was one she couldn’t turn down.
“Sam had a spot on her staff available, and she asked me if I would be interested. I was excited about it because Sam is like family,” Smith said. “I love being here. The people, the neighborhood, the girls, the staff, everyone’s been very welcoming.”
As Smith prepares for her SIUE debut, she’ll keep a close eye on Trinity. She’s met with Blazers’ coach Kim Coleman and thinks highly of her.
“Kim’s great, I love her,” Smith said. “She knows what she’s doing and she’s taking the program to a great level and direction. I think they’ll be even better than last year to be honest. Those kids got the experience of going downstate; coming up empty, they’re going to be thirsty to get back and finish things.”