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Salter, Smith Named Assistant Coaches Headed Into 2025-26 Season
11/3/2025 2:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kansas City adjusts assistant coaching staff with the promotion of Sammy Smith and addition of La’Karis Salter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Women's Basketball has made several adjustments to the coaching staff prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. The Roos bring in La'Karis Salter as an assistant coach and have elevated Sammy Smith to the position of assistant coach.
In his new role, Smith will oversee student managers and practice players while aiding the team in the film/video, analytics and scouting departments. A San Antonio, Tex. native, Sammy Smith has spent the last two years in Kansas City. Smith was a women's basketball graduate assistant while pursuing a master's degree at UMKC.
This past May, Smith graduated with a Master's of Business Administration. In his two seasons as a GA, Smith assisted with operations, equipment, travel and helped facilitate games and practices.
"I get to work with some really incredible, accomplished and talented people around here," Smith said. "Their hard work and investment make me want to continue pouring more of myself into this program."
Prior to his time with the Roos, Smith attended Texas A&M where he spent his undergraduate years as a student manager for the Aggies women's basketball team. Smith also pursued a B.S. in Sports Management, graduating in 2022. Smith went to Alamo Heights HS and was an Academic All-State athlete on the basketball team in 2019.
Salter joins Kansas City's coaching staff as a new assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In her current role with the Roos, Salter will be in charge of post player development and all recruiting and scouting activities involving potential student athletes. Kansas City will be Salter's fifth stop in the coaching ranks. The Tallahassee, Fla. native is a well-tenured assistant coach with previous stops at Omaha, Ferris State, Olivet and UTPB.
Last season as an assistant coach with Omaha, Salter coached Aaliyah Moore who made the 2025 Summit League All-Newcomer Team and set an Omaha single-game record of 19 rebounds in a game. Salter also helped develop Harriet Ford into a Summit League All-Freshman Team member.
In her time with Ferris State from 2022-24, Salter worked on developing post players, recruiting and assumed the role of defensive coordinator. Salter aided several athletes to reach new heights in their careers and helped guide the Bulldogs to their first ever 26 win season, Elite Eight and Final Four at the NCAA Division II level.
Before her stint with Ferris State, Salter was an assistant coach for Olivet College in the 2021-22 season where she coached Rachel Swarts, the program's all-time leader in blocks in a single season. Salter's first destination following a decorated playing career was the University of Texas Permian Basin.
Prior to her coaching career, Salter enjoyed a fantastic and storied career as a player at Mississippi State, Jacksonville and Ole Miss. Salter began her career with the Bulldogs, where she developed a connection with then assistant coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett. The full circle relationship began in Starkville, where Salter was a key piece of Mississippi State's run to the NCAA Round of 32 in 2014 and NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2016.
"Coach Jackson and my relationship goes back to Mississippi State. We were apart of many winning teams and understand the culture and process it takes to have success," Salter said. "I believe in her vision for the program and want to help her the best way I can to put KC on the map!"
Salter continued her playing career by joining Jacksonville for her junior season in 2017-18 where the Dolphins were ASUN Championship runner-ups. In her final year of eligibility, Salter went back to the state of Mississippi to join Ole Miss where she saw a career-best campaign, averaging 8.1 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per game. Salter was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and earned the Ole Miss Community Service Award throughout her time in Oxford.
Salter attended Fame D.R.S before joining the college basketball scene and showcased a dominant high school career. From 2011-24, Salter was All Big Bend First Team and was a three-time Big Bend Player of Year. Salter was an FHSAA 2A state champion in 2012 and 2013 while also being the state player of the year in both of those seasons. Salter was also a two-time Dairy Farmers 2A Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American nominee prior to her graduation in 2014.
