WAUKESHA — Bianca Smith recently left Carroll University, and now she's off to the Boston Red Sox organization as a minor league coach, making her the first Black woman to serve in that role in the history of professional baseball.
"Every day, it means a little bit more because I'm still seeing people who comment about it and how, you know, it inspires them," Smith says.
As Bianca Smith gets ready to leave Carroll, her accomplishment still leaves her thinking various thoughts.
"I don't really feel like a trailblazer, because there have been women who have done it before me," Smith says.
As an African American woman, her new Red Sox role also has new meaning during Black History Month.
"That does mean a lot," Smith says. "That's something. You know growing up, my Mom put a big emphasis on Black History Month, making sure that we knew our history, like me and my siblings. So that's been pretty important to me."
At Carroll, the Pioneers knew she was a high riser.
"Our head soccer coach, he's been joking for the last couple of months on, as he knew I was looking for a full-time coaching job. Every time I went into his office with a huge smile, his first question was 'alright, when are you leaving?'" Smith says.
And her goals are lofty.
"I want to see how far I can go with this, and right now that's manager," Smith says.
But at Carroll, they will truly miss her.
"I've already told my players that I'm most likely going to cry my last day. I already had a pitcher who admitted that he's going to cry my last day, which means a whole lot to me because I'm not the pitching coach," Smith says.
And let's just say there will always be a part of Bianca Smith at Carroll University in Waukesha. They are proud of her.
