Foundation Academy associate AD speaks at Duke’s Women in Sports forum

Even if you go all the way back to when Krystal Thomas-Smith was in high school, it was clear the 6-foot-5, All-American center for The First Academy’s girls basketball team was special. Her consistent dominance on the hardwood culminated in the Royals winning back-to-back FHSAA state championships in 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the then Duke-bound player leading the way.

Although Thomas-Smith’s playing days are over — following a successful college and professional basketball career at Duke, the WNBA and overseas that concluded in 2019 — it doesn’t mean she isn’t still a leader in sports or isn’t accomplishing extraordinary things. 

Since joining Foundation’s faculty as a P.E. teacher and girls basketball coach in 2019, she has worked her way within the Lions family, being promoted to dean of students in 2022 and additionally adding on the responsibility of associate athletic director. Her success within both the educational space and the sports industry hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially by her alma mater. 

In fact, Thomas-Smith’s path has been so impressive and inspiring that she was asked to take that old tobacco road back to Durham, North Carolina, and join 13 other female Blue Devil alumni — who have made their mark on the sports industry — on a panel at the Women in Sports Careers Forum to share her journey and insights with around 100 of Duke’s male and female student-athletes. 

“It was an incredible experience,” she said. “It’s always an honor to return to Duke, and it’s extra special to return in a fashion that gives back to student-athletes. … I absolutely feel these sorts of events are important. Even if you play pro for 20-plus years, the ball will stop bouncing at some point, and 99% of people go pro in something other than sports. So, these events help prepare student-athletes for what’s next. (Giving them) the ability to ask questions and engage with people in the sports world is critical.”

The forum was organized by the university’s career development department and designed to be an experience that provides insights and inspiration for the next generation of leaders — both male and female — in the sports industry by advocating for women’s advancement in sports through sharing experiences, giving their insider tips and tricks of the trade, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and leadership, and expanding the lens of these student-athletes to the diverse career opportunities within the sports industry.

Thomas-Smith focused her message on helping Duke’s student-athletes understand three things: Learn from their mistakes, understand the opportunities they have in front of them and lean heavily into faith.

“(I had) two big messages; the first was following where God is calling you,” she said. “Walking in His will is the most important thing you can do in your career. Secondly, as a student-athlete at Duke, you compete in the highest capacity both in the classroom and in your respective sports field. This skill set is unlike any other, and because of this, you have all the tools you need to succeed in the ‘real world.’ … I wish I had understood how crucial networking is in the sports industry (at their age) — building relationships with coaches, administrators and alumni can open doors.”

Alongside Thomas-Smith on the Women in Sports Careers Forum panel was an impressive lineup of Duke alumni, featuring trailblazers from various career paths in sports, from the coaching and athletic training field to sports management and broadcasting. With this broad range of experiences, the forum provided not only an expansive discussion by the panel but also an in-depth look at the challenges and successes these women have faced, specifically in their niche and universally, offering priceless guidance to these students.

Beyond the discussion by the panel, the forum also allowed Thomas-Smith and her fellow panelists to build personal connections with those in attendance during a speed-dating-formatted dynamic, where panelists would jump from table to table and engage with the student-athlete on a more personal level. For Thomas-Smith, this moment allowed her to serve these students in a more in-depth and personalized manner, as she was able to answer specific questions about her role in education and athletics administration at Foundation. 

Just as Thomas-Smith’s game on the court showed her versatility and leadership, her passion for leading and advocating for the next generation doesn’t stop at events like Duke’s Women in Sports Career Forum; this is just one of the many avenues she uses to inspire young athletes and help blaze the trail for future leaders in sports. 

Along with her role at Foundation and participating in speaking engagements, Thomas-Smith also dedicates a significant amount of her time to the youth basketball program she co-founded, Kingdom Basketball Academy.