FHSU Athletics

Wrestling Coach
A native of Denver, Colorado, Smith was the head wrestling coach at Fort Hays State from 1992 to 2000. In his eight years as head coach, Smith produced 13 All-Americans and 9 NWCA All-Academic Team members. His teams finished in the Top 12 at nationals in each of his last four seasons with a ninth place finish in 2000 as the highest in the program's NCAA history. Smith helped transition the program from the NAIA to the NCAA after spending 33 years as head wrestling coach at Wray High School in Colorado. He is a member of the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his efforts at Wray High, and a member of the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his time at Fort Hays State. He is also a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, University of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame, and Colorado High School Coaches Hall of Fame. He turned around a struggling program at Fort Hays State and built it into one of the most respected programs in the nation at the NCAA Division II level. He was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1997 and accumulated 43 dual wins in his time at FHSU. Smith had such a profound impact on the Tiger Wrestling program that FHSU holds an annual tournament in his name.