Life is a series of experiences, and for Ryan Smith, experience defines his journey. The 46-year-old Qualtrics founder built his fortune by helping brands manage, analyze, and enhance customer experiences. In 2020, when Ryan and his wife, Ashley Smith, completed their purchase of a majority stake in the Utah Jazz from the Gail Miller family—who had owned the team for over three decades—Ryan stepped onto the court for the first time with a unique perspective. His thoughts centered on the experiences of fans, players, and employees alike, underscoring his commitment to the Jazz community.

Basketball runs deep in the Smith household. The Smiths are not just business leaders—they’re passionate fans. Their love for the game is evident in every corner of their lives, from a basketball hoop in Qualtrics’ office to a hoop in their living room, a court in their basement, and even mini hoops in their children’s bedrooms. It’s safe to say the Utah Jazz is in devoted hands. So, here is everything you need to know about the Utah Jazz owner’s better half.

Who is Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith married to? Everything about Ashley Smith

Ryan Smith shares his life with his lovely wife Ashley Smith. She is also a Utah native and hails from Salt Lake City but was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. While Ashley was young, she discovered a deep love for arts and set off a path to focus and develop her musical and dancing abilities. She left Las Vegas in 2000 to attend Brigham Young University where she discovered her entrepreneurship skills.

While attending Accounting 200, she met her future husband Ryan, with whom she would eventually tie the knot in 2007. Later on, Ashley founded the Smash Dance Academy in Provo and she also helped her husband with Qualtrics. Furthermore, the couple also grew their family as they are loving parents to five children, who are also into basketball and huge Jazz fans. Ashley has achieved a lot of success in her respective fields just like her husband.

A testament to this is her dance academy which caters to more than 500 students and has more than 80 employees as of 2023. Apart from this she is also a member of the board of Ballet West and has been an active member in Abby Cox’s Show Up initiative, which helps the less fortunate. She dedicates a lot of her time to philanthropic initiatives and together with her husband is doing as much as possible for the community.

Is Ashley an owner of the Smith Entertainment Group?

Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley Smith are owners of the Smith Entertainment Group. The company has a growing portfolio that includes several different sports franchises and venues including, the Utah Jazz and their G League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars, apart from which the Smiths also are owners of Utah Hockey Club, have minority interests in MLS’s Real Salt Lake and NWSL’s Utah Royals.

“We’re not going to let fear or uncertainty be what stops growth,” said Ashley Smith, co-owner of Smith Entertainment Group. “I think live entertainment is such an opportunity to better our state, to bring people together, to unite, despite our differences, and whether it’s sports, whether it’s the arts, we want it all to work down there.” The venues owned by the Smith Entertainment Group include the Delta Center which has held UFC pay-per-view events and more as they continue to spread their wings in the entertainment world.

What did Ashley have to say about her difficult childhood?

The Smiths get their confidence from their decades of hard work and resilience, starting with their challenging childhoods. Ashley growing up had to face a lot of difficulties as her parents divorced when she was quite young and she was raised alongside her siblings by her single mother. “We lived in very small quarters. She always had two jobs and it was definitely, it was a grind. All of us just kind of brought everything we had to the table, which is such a blessing now,” she said reflecting on the tough times. But it was this difficult phase of her life that instilled the characteristics that define her today and she is proud of that.

How did Ryan and Ashley Smith meet?

Ryan and Ashley met each other through their shared interest in entrepreneurship as the couple met in an accounting class while attending Brigham Young University. “We were very much intrigued with each other and interested in each other the second we met,” said Ashley as the two had a lot in common. 

Both of them had a lot of things in common which helped them bond together and also wanted to grow individually in their respective fields which contributed heavily to bringing the two together. Additionally, Ryan and Ashley took their sweet time to know each other as they became friends and then dated for a while before deciding to spend the rest of their lives together.

The power couple out of Utah now is enjoying their married life and raising five wonderful children together as they navigate through their careers. How do you feel about this beautiful bond and journey? Tell us in the comment section below!