Mike Smith (running coach)

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Mike Smith
Biographical details
Born (1980-04-03) April 3, 1980 (age 44)[1]
Alma materGeorgetown University
Playing career
1994–1998Wachusett Regional High School Mountaineers
1998–2002Georgetown Hoyas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006–2012Team Run Flagstaff
2012-2016Georgetown Hoyas
2016–presentNorthern Arizona Lumberjacks
Born
Michael Smith
SpouseRachel Schneider

Mike Smith (born April 3, 1980) is an American coach who has been the director of cross country and track and field at Northern Arizona University since 2017.[2] As the head coach of the men's and women's programs, he has led the men's teams to five NCAA Division I men's cross country championships titles.[3]

Smith has been credited with establishing a running dynasty at Northern Arizona. His coaching philosophy involves emphasizing "executing a great team race" at championships rather than focusing on the final outcome.[4][5]

Prior to Northern Arizona University[edit]

As a runner, Smith competed for the Wachusett Regional High School Mountaineers where his team placed 2nd at the 1997 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country championships. Smith also placed 8th at the 1998 New Balance Outdoor Nationals two mile run.[6]

After completing his collegiate running career at Georgetown University, Smith worked as an elementary school teacher for two years and earned a master's degree. He did not compete during this time period.[6] In 2006, he moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he worked under Dr. Jack Daniels at the NAU Center for High Altitude Training and founded Team Run Flagstaff.[7] During this time period, Smith competed in trail and road races and qualified for and competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon.[6]

Smith returned to Georgetown as a coach in 2012. He rose through the ranks to eventually become the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field during the 2015-2016 academic year.[8]

As director of Northern Arizona cross country and track[edit]

Smith joined the NAU cross country coaching staff in fall 2016 in anticipation of the retirement of the current head coach, Eric Heins.[9] That season, the men's team built off of fourth, second, and fourth place team finishes in the three preceding years to win the 2016 NCAA men's NCAA Division I title. Mike Smith officially became the Northern Arizona University's Director of Cross Country and Track in 2017.

Men's NCAA DI cross country championship team results[edit]

Year NCAA Champions Runner-Up Score Top-10 Individual Finishes
2017[10] NAU Portland 74–127 2nd Matthew Baxter, 3rd Tyler Day, 8th Peter Lomong
2018[11] NAU BYU 83–116 6th Tyler Day
2019[12] BYU NAU 109–163
2020 NAU Notre Dame 60–87 4th Nico Young, 6th Blaise Ferro, 7th Abdihamid Nur, 9th Luis Grijalva
2021[13] NAU Iowa State 92–137 7th Abdihamid Nur
2022[14] NAU Oklahoma State 83–83* 3-2 tiebreak 2nd Nico Young, 3rd Drew Bosley
2023[15] Oklahoma State NAU 49-71 5th Drew Bosley,

6th Nico Young

Women's NCAA DI cross country championship team results[edit]

Year NAU Place Top-10 Individual Finishes
2017[3] Did not qualify
2018[3] Did not qualify
2019[11] 14th
2020[16] 11th 6th Taryn O'Neill
2021 23rd
2022[17] 6th 4th Elise Stearns
2023[18] 2nd

Individual NCAA titles and records[edit]

Under Smith, four male athletes have won indoor and NCAA Division I titles: Andy Trouard in the 3000 m in 2018, George Beamish in the mile in 2019,[19] Abdihamid Nur in the 3000m and 5000m in 2022,[20] and Nico Young in the 3000 m and 5000 m in 2024.[21] As of the conclusion of the outdoor NCAA season in 2023, Smith has yet to win an NCAA outdoor title.

As of 2024, Smith's athletes hold collegiate records in the indoor 3000 m (by Drew Bosley in 2023) and the absolute 5000 m and 10,000 m records (by Nico Young in 2024). Smith-trained Abdihamid Nur previously held the 5000 m record.[22][23]

Personal[edit]

Born in 1980, Smith attended and competed for Wachusett High School in Holden, Massachusetts.[6][1] Smith is married to professional runner Rachel Schneider (now Rachel Smith).[24] They initially met at Georgetown University, where Smith coached Schneider. Both relocated to Flagstaff, AZ, and, while Smith continued to coach Schneider, the pair began dating. The couple has one child, Nova, born in 2023.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mike Smith at World Athletics
  2. ^ "Michael Smith". NAU Athletics. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Michael Smith". Cronkite News. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ Hamilton, Brian. "Mystery in the aspens: How did a running dynasty take root in Flagstaff?". The Athletic. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  5. ^ "Coach Mike Smith Defining The Mindset And Culture Of The NAU Cross Country Dynasty". CITIUS MAG. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  6. ^ a b c d Garven, Rich. "Where are they now: Former Wachusett standout Michael Smith keeps Northern Arizona teams on course". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  7. ^ "Team Run Flagstaff". Run Flagstaff. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Michael Smith". NAU Athletics. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  9. ^ "MICHAEL SMITH NAMED NAU DIRECTOR OF CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD". NAU Athletics. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  10. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  11. ^ a b "TFRRS | NCAA DI Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  12. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  13. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  14. ^ "Results".
  15. ^ "Results".
  16. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA DI Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  17. ^ "Results".
  18. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships - Meet Results".
  19. ^ "Geordie Beamish crowned 2019 NCAA indoor men's mile national champion". The NAU Review. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Michael Smith". NAU Athletics. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  21. ^ "NAU ROUNDUP: Young shines in indoor national championships". Arizona Daily Sun. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  22. ^ "USTFCCCA Collegiate Indoor Track and Field Records". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Collegiate Track & Field All-Dates All-Time Best Marks". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Rachel Smith - Source of Joy". CTolleRun.com. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Rachel Smith Turns to Longer Distances". Track & Field News. May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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