Her Story
About Tiffany
Tiffany Smith is a youth soccer coach, trainer, and small-business owner with extensive experience as both a player and a coach. She serves as Head Coach at Sol SC Florida and also coaches at the high school level at East Ridge High School. Through her training business, TRS Training, she works with athletes one-on-one and in small groups, focusing on technical development, confidence, communication, and game intelligence. Her coaching philosophy centers on developing athletes as whole people. She emphasizes character, confidence, mental development, and long-term growth over performance alone.
Smith is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Grand Canyon University with a focus on sports psychology. Her academic interests include athlete motivation, team dynamics, mental performance, and the psychological and developmental needs of athletes. She is especially passionate about female athlete development and helping young women navigate the physical, mental, and emotional sides of competitive sports. Her earlier career in healthcare administration gave her more than two decades of experience in organization, communication, teamwork, and performing under pressure.
Beyond coaching and education, Smith is committed to supporting women and girls in sports and expanding access to athletic opportunities. She is affiliated with the Orlando chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). In all of her coaching, business, academic, and community work, she aims to create environments where athletes feel supported and empowered to learn from setbacks, build confidence, and keep moving forward.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tiffany
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to consistency, adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to always learning. Being both a player and a coach taught me that every athlete is different, and that good leadership means meeting people where they are. I keep growing by challenging myself, studying psychology and sports psychology, and staying open to new ideas and experiences. At 51, I refuse to let my age decide what I can accomplish. Going back to school and building my business have shown me it's never too late to start something new. Above all, I try to lead with intention and help the people around me grow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The career lesson I value most is learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth usually means stepping into situations where I don't have all the answers and trusting that I'll learn along the way. I've found that challenges can turn into real opportunities for growth when I meet them with curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to adapt.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To young women entering sports: believe that you belong here and that you can lead. Stay willing to learn, build relationships, lift up other women, and say yes to opportunities that stretch you. Collaboration is more powerful than competition, and when we create supportive environments, everyone grows. Most of all, keep investing in yourself, both professionally and personally, and remember that your worth is so much bigger than any single game, performance, or result.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in youth soccer is developing athletes as whole people, not just as performers. We need a better understanding of the physical, mental, and emotional factors that affect young athletes, especially female players. Recovery, confidence, mental performance, communication, and the physical and hormonal changes girls go through all deserve more attention than they get.
I also see a real opportunity to expand access and representation for women and girls in sports. We can strengthen the future of the game by creating supportive environments, getting resources to athletes who wouldn't otherwise have them, and encouraging more women to step into coaching and leadership roles.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are equity, inclusion, consistency, curiosity, adaptability, and personal growth. Every athlete brings their own story, background, and strengths, and I want the players I coach to feel supported, challenged, and understood. I also put a lot of weight on confidence, communication, and character, because success is about more than wins and stats. Whether I'm coaching, studying, or building my business, I try to lead with intention and help people get stronger both on and off the field.
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