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Waukee High School has appointed Bart Smith as its next head coach for girls basketball beginning with the 2026–27 season, a move aimed at reversing a sub-.500 campaign and returning the program to state‑tournament contention. Smith arrives with recent state‑championship experience and a long record of winning at multiple Iowa schools, a combination likely to shape the Warriors’ offseason and recruiting plans.
Championship pedigree from Johnston and a long winning record
Smith spent the most recent season on the bench at Johnston High School, where he was part of the staff that secured a consecutive Class 5A state title. That immediate success at a top program follows a prolific run as a head coach elsewhere in the state.
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Before joining Johnston, Smith led Clear Lake’s girls program for 14 seasons, compiling a 253-76 ledger, seven North Central Conference crowns and six state-tournament berths. He also coached boys teams at Cherokee and Alta for four seasons combined, producing a 61-8 record and guiding Alta to the Iowa High School Athletic Association boys state tournament in his first year.
Across his head-coaching career Smith’s record stands at 325-95. A native of Guthrie Center High School, he is a Buena Vista University alumnus who competed in collegiate football and earned multiple conference honors as a defender.
Transition to Waukee: from classroom to sideline
Smith joined the Waukee Community School District last year as a teacher, a foothold in the district that preceded his promotion to the program’s top coaching job. The district announced the hire this week, and school activities officials expressed optimism about the program’s direction under his leadership.
Waukee went 7-15 in the most recent season under Dani Franklin‑Printy. The program has historical success — state championships in 2015 and 2021 and 20 overall state‑tournament appearances — but has dipped from the heights and missed consistent postseason runs.
Roster continuity gives Smith pieces to build on
Although the Warriors will lose starters Natalie Sitzmann and Maryne Szalo to graduation, several players with significant experience are back. That returning core provides Smith with familiar pieces as he implements his system and prepares for summer workouts.
- Returning starters: Samantha Reis, Olivia Baker, Suzy Scott, Abbajay Peters, Julia Van Keuren
- Top contributors: Abbajay Peters — team’s second-leading scorer (11.4 ppg); Peters and Van Keuren — both averaged more than four rebounds per game
- Recent team mark: 7–15 (most recent season)
- Program history: State champions in 2015 and 2021; last state semifinal appearance in 2023–24 (loss to Johnston)
For Waukee, the hire represents a balancing act: integrating a proven coach with a winning resume while accelerating development for players who already have varsity minutes. How quickly Smith’s methods translate to improved results will determine whether the Warriors return to the state stage sooner rather than later.
Key details at a glance:
- Position: Head girls basketball coach, Waukee High School (effective 2026–27 season)
- Last role: Assistant coach, Johnston High School (part of back‑to‑back Class 5A state championships)
- Career head-coaching record: 325-95
- Notable head-coaching tenure: Clear Lake — 253-76, seven conference titles
- Local ties: Joined Waukee district staff as a teacher last year
