The Gators are proud to announce that Dana (Smith) DesJarlais [pronounced: deh-ZHAR-lay]Â Â Â is their 2016 Southeastern Conference Legend.
DesJarlais currently resides with her family in Jacksonville, site of the 2016 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, where she and the rest of the 2016 Class of Women’s Legends will be formally recognized.
WHO THEY ARE:
The SEC 2016 Class of Women’s Legends showcases former student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all 14 SEC member institutions.
FORMAL RECOGNITION:
- The class will be honored at the 2016 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, March 2-6 in Jacksonville, Fla.
- Each legend will be honored during half-time of their team’s first game of the tournament.
- All 14 individuals will also be honored as a group, as well as participate in an autograph session during the tournament.
- Complimentary posters of the Legends will be available at the session.
DANA’S QUICK HIGHLIGHTS:
- Dana Smith, a 5-foot-8 guard from St. Cloud, Florida, was a four-year letterwinner and starter for the Gator women’s basketball team from 1994-98.
- Team tri-captain her senior year.
- Graduated from St. Cloud High School as the state of Florida’s all-time prep scorer (male or female) with 3,469 points and ranked eighth all-time on the national list and despite her scoring prowess, assumed the traditional role of point guard distributor and dished to legendary post players DeLisha Milton and Murriel Page.
- In spite of her point guard role with two All-American post players, Smith scored 828 career points and averaged 29.8 minutes per game.
- Smith started 107 of the 125 games she played.
- In UF’s all-time record book (upon graduation), Smith ranked:
o   No. 1 three-point FG pct. (32.6%)
o   No. 2 three-pointers (142)
o   No. 2 three pointers attempted (435)
o   Tied-No. 2 games played (125)
o   No. 5 assists (368)
o   No. 7 steals (183)
- Established UF season record for minutes played (1,193 minutes in 1996-97)
- 31 double-figure scoring games and two double-doubles
- A gutsy defender who led the team in charges taken every year
- Her tenure at UF was the most successful stretch during program history:
o   was 92-36 during her four-year career, won at least 21 games each of those seasons, reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA twice, the NCAA Elite Eight once and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament every year.
- Career stats totals:
o   Points: 828 (6.6 pg)
o   Assists: 368 (1.5 pg)
o   Rebounds: 344 (2.8 pg)
o   Steals: 183 (1.5 pg)
o   Games Played: 125 (started 107)
Smith’s Career Individual Game Highs
| Pts | 21-2x last vs. Fla. Int’l, 3/15/97 |
| Rbs | 12-vs. Tennessee, 1/21/97 |
| Ast | 12 vs. South Carolina, 1/17/98 |
| Stl | 6-at Miss. State, 2/22/97 |
| Blk | 1-5x last vs. Alabama, 12/21/97 |
| Min | 48-at Texas, 11/26/96 |
| FG | 9-vs. Fla. Int’l, 3/15/97 |
| FGA | 17-vs. Fla. Int’l, 3/15/97 |
| 3FG | 5-vs. Southern Cal, 3/17/97 |
| 3FGA | 10-2x last at Alabama, 2/17/96 |
| FT | 7- vs Florida State, 11/20/97 |
| FTA | 11 vs. Purdue, 12/12/97 |
CURRENT INFORMATION:
- After assuming a basketball coaching career upon graduation, Dana has been working with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars as the Assistant to the General Manager and Administrator of Football Operations.
FAMILY:
- husband Jason, two children
Below is the complete list of the 2016 SEC Women’s Legends:
ALABAMA – Sarah Patterson, Gymnastics (Coach), 1979-2014
ARKANSAS – Veronica Campbell Brown, Track & Field, 2004
AUBURN – Kim Evans, Women’s Golf (Coach), 1994-2015
FLORIDA – Dana Smith DesJarlais, Basketball, 1994-1998
GEORGIA – Andy Landers, Basketball (Coach), 1979-2015
KENTUCKY – Tina Johnson Ybarra, Swimming & Diving, 1994-1996
LSU – Sylvia Fowles, Basketball, 2004-2008
OLE MISS – Paloma Collantes- Hansen, Tennis, 1991-1994
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Chelsea Bramlett-Malone, Softball, 2007-2010
MISSOURI – Lorraine Ferret, Basketball, 1979-1983
SOUTH CAROLINA – Denise Nanney- White, Basketball, 1975-1977
TENNESSEE – Shyra Ely-Gash, Basketball, 2001-2005
TEXAS A&M – Toccara Williams, Basketball, 2000-2004
VANDERBILT – Ashley Earley, Basketball, 2001-2005
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