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<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Sept. 10, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor Women’s Basketball Announces Addition of General Manager<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith named Women’s Basketball GM<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121">Colin Pirtle; 940-564-0351,
<a href="mailto:colin_pirtle1@baylor.edu">colin_pirtle1@baylor.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">WACO, Texas –
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Baylor head women’s basketball coach Nicki Collen announced Wednesday that Juliana Smith has joined the program’s staff in a full-time capacity as women’s basketball general manager.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Smith joined Baylor Athletics in July 2023, initially serving as executive senior associate AD for mission impact and enrichment and
sport program administrator for women’s basketball before later adding, in a limited capacity, the responsibilities of women’s basketball general manager to her role.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">As part of the women’s basketball staff, Smith will collaborate with athletics general manager David Kaye and the athletics front office
to oversee roster construction and management, player acquisition and retention and budget and cap management, including rules compliance. She will also serve as the program’s external NIL liaison.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“As we have done in football and men’s basketball, elevating this position to full-time reflects the evolving landscape of college athletics
and the need to continue to professionalize our operations in support of our student-athletes and staff,” said Athletic Director Mack Rhoades. “It also positions Coach Collen and her program for long-term success, with the structures in place to sustain excellence.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Her appointment marks the first time Baylor women’s basketball has established the general manager role in a full-time capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“Juliana has been a trusted and invaluable member of our team over the past year, with an exceptional understanding of my student-athletes
and staff, Baylor’s mission and our program,” Collen said. “Her attention to detail, thoughtful approach and steadfast commitment to our success make her the perfect fit for this role. I’m beyond excited to now have her contributing full-time in this capacity.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“Serving previously as sport program administrator for women’s basketball gave me the opportunity to see firsthand the many elements
involved in recruiting talented, mission-fit student-athletes,” Smith said. “I’m honored that Coach Nicki has entrusted me to lead the program’s name, image and likeness and revenue-share strategy, ensuring our student-athletes can maximize both their platform
and earning potential while competing for Baylor women’s basketball. I’m deeply grateful to Mack Rhoades for his vision for the future of Baylor Athletics and this program.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Before joining Baylor, Smith held senior leadership roles at Colgate University, including deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator
overseeing staffing and multiple sports programs. She previously served at the University of Oklahoma managing athletics HR and diversity efforts for more than 800 staff and at Texas Tech as director of operations for multiple sports.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Baylor women's basketball is presented by Central National Bank, a family-owned, independent bank headquartered in Waco, Texas, that provides uniquely personal service while
simultaneously embracing the latest developments in banking technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">To stay up to date, follow the team on its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- BaylorBears.com -<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">_________________________________________</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#073D1E;mso-ligatures:none">Colin Pirtle</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#073D1E;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">|
Associate Director of Athletics Communications (WBB, Soccer, W. Tennis) </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">C: 940-564-0351</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:3.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/" title="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DC225A.E54D6D50" alt="signature_2230589939"></span></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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