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Mike Smith (running coach)

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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]

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
1998–2000James Madison Dukes
2000–2002Georgetown Hoyas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006–2012Team Run Flagstaff
2012–2016Georgetown Hoyas
2016–presentNorthern Arizona Lumberjacks
Born
Michael Smith
SpouseRachel Schneider

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

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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 initially competing for James Madison University, Smith completed his collegiate running career at Georgetown University.[7] After college, he 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.[8] During this time period, Smith competed in trail and road running 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.[9]

As director of Northern Arizona cross country and track

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Smith joined the NAU cross country coaching staff in fall 2016 in anticipation of the retirement of the current head coach, Eric Heins.[10] 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.

In 2024, it was announced that the 2024-2025 academic year would be Smith's last as Director; he would leave NAU to lead a Nike-sponsored professional running team based in Flagstaff.[11]

Men's NCAA DI cross country championship team results

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Year NCAA Champions Runner-up Score Top-10 Individual Finishes
2017[12] NAU Portland 74–127 2nd Matthew Baxter, 3rd Tyler Day, 8th Peter Lomong
2018[13] NAU BYU 83–116 6th Tyler Day
2019[14] BYU NAU 109–163
2020 NAU Notre Dame 60–87 4th Nico Young, 6th Blaise Ferro, 7th Abdihamid Nur, 9th Luis Grijalva
2021[15] NAU Iowa State 92–137 7th Abdihamid Nur
2022[16] NAU Oklahoma State 83–83* 3–2 tiebreak 2nd Nico Young, 3rd Drew Bosley
2023[17] Oklahoma State NAU 49–71 5th Drew Bosley,

6th Nico Young

Women's NCAA DI cross country championship team results

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Year NAU Place Top-10 Individual Finishes
2017[3] Did not qualify
2018[3] Did not qualify
2019[13] 14th
2020[18] 11th 6th Taryn O'Neill
2021 23rd
2022[19] 6th 4th Elise Stearns
2023[20] 2nd

Individual NCAA titles and records

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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,[21] Abdihamid Nur in the 3000m and 5000m in 2022,[22] and Nico Young in the 3000 m and 5000 m in 2024.[23] 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 3,000 m (by Drew Bosley in 2023) and the absolute 5,000 m and 10,000 m records (by Nico Young in 2024). Smith-trained Abdihamid Nur previously held the 5,000 m record.[24][25]

Athletes trained by Mike Smith

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Current

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Former

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Championship results by professional athletes

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Year Meet Athlete Event Place Time
2015 USA Indoor Championships Rachel Smith Mile 3rd 4:35.85
USA Championships Rachel Smith 1,500 m 5th 4:16.09
2016 USA Indoor Championships Rachel Smith 1,500 m 8th 4:19.48
USA Olympic Trials Rachel Smith 1,500 m 17th 4:13.43
2018 USA Indoor Championships Rachel Smith 1,500 m 7th 4:16.71
USA Championships Rachel Smith 1,500 m 4th 4:08.33
Rachel Smith 5,000 m 2nd 15:32.71
2019 USA Cross County Championships Rachel Smith 10 km 12th 34:04
USA Championships Rachel Smith 5,000 m 4th 15:17.91
World Championships Rachel Smith 5,000 m 19th 15:30.00
2020 USA Indoor Championships Rachel Smith 1,500 m 6th 4:14.87
Rachel Smith 3,000 m 9th 9:16.06
2021 USA Olympic Trials Galen Rupp 10,000 m 6th 27:59.43
Olympic Games Luis Grijalva 5,000 m 12th 13:10.09
Galen Rupp Marathon 8th 2:11.41
Rachel Smith 5,000 m 17th 15:00.07
2022 USA Championships Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 10th 4:10.97
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 3rd 13:08.63
World Championships Luis Grijalva 5,000 m 4th 13:10.44
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 11th 13:18.05
2023 USA Championships Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 1st 4:03.10
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 1st 13:24.37
Woody Kincaid 10,000 m 1st 28:23.01
World Championships Luis Grijalva 5,000 m 4th 13:12.50
Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 11th (sf) 4:00.84
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 12th 13:23.90
Woody Kincaid 10,000 m 11th 28:08.71
2024 USA Indoor Championships Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 1st 4:08.35
Abdihamid Nur 3,000 m 5th 7:58.65
World Indoor Championships Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 2nd 4:02.32
USA Olympic Trials Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 1st 3:55.33
Woody Kincaid 5,000 9th 13:31.40
10,000 m 2nd 27:50.74
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 2nd 13:09.01
Galen Rupp Marathon 16th 2:14.07
Nico Young 10,000 m 3rd 27:52.40
Olympic Games Luis Grijalva 5,000 m 16th 13:58.81
Nikki Hiltz 1,500 m 7th 3:56.38
Abdihamid Nur 5,000 m 19th (h) 14:15.00
Woody Kincaid 10,000 m 16th 27:29.40
Nico Young 10,000 m 12th 26:58.11

Personal

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Smith was born in 1980 and was raised in Princeton, Massachusetts.[35][6][1] Smith is married to professional runner Rachel Schneider (now Rachel Smith).[36] 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.[37]

References

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  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. ^ "Smith's career a work in progress". The Georgetown Voice. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Team Run Flagstaff". Run Flagstaff. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Michael Smith". NAU Athletics. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  10. ^ "MICHAEL SMITH NAMED NAU DIRECTOR OF CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD". NAU Athletics. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Northern Arizona University Coach Mike Smith Will Become a Nike Coach in 2025". Runner's World. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 28 Oct 2024.
  12. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  13. ^ a b "TFRRS | NCAA DI Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  14. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  15. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  16. ^ "Results".
  17. ^ "Results".
  18. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA DI Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  19. ^ "Results".
  20. ^ "TFRRS | NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships – Meet Results".
  21. ^ "Geordie Beamish crowned 2019 NCAA indoor men's mile national champion". The NAU Review. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Michael Smith". NAU Athletics. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  23. ^ "NAU ROUNDUP: Young shines in indoor national championships". Arizona Daily Sun. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  24. ^ "USTFCCCA Collegiate Indoor Track and Field Records". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Collegiate Track & Field All-Dates All-Time Best Marks". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Former NAU teammates Abdihamid Nur, Luis Grijalva storm to men's 5,000m final at World Championships". Cronkite News. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Elly Henes Runs 14:52 For 5000m, Taking Care Of "Unfinished Business"". Citius Mag. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Nikki Hiltz Has a New Team But the Same Mission: Protect Trans Kids". Women's Running. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Kincaid Kicks On, Ready for the Next Chapter". World Athletics. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Former NAU teammates Abdihamid Nur, Luis Grijalva storm to men's 5,000m final at World Championships". Cronkite News. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Galen Rupp Has a New Coach". Runner's World. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Colin Sahlman Podcast: "Don't Put Limits on Yourself" – Olympic Trials, NCAAs on Tap for NAU Star". Let'sRun.com. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Rachel Smith – Source of Joy". CTolleRun.com. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Mystery in the aspens: How did a running dynasty take root in Flagstaff?". The Athletic. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Smith's career a work in progress". The Georgetown Voice. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Rachel Smith – Source of Joy". CTolleRun.com. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Rachel Smith Turns to Longer Distances". Track & Field News. May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
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