Von Smith, who came to KSU in 2001, enters his 15th season as Head Coach for the Kentucky State University Track and Field and Cross Country programs.
At the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Kentucky State men's team earned 116 points to finish in third place overall. That point total and finish is the highest for a men's team in KSU school history.
After the 2009-2010 seasons, Smith had two Conference Champions at the 2010 SIAC Outdoor Championships in the Women’s 100 Hurdles and the Women’s High Jump.
The women’s team broke four school records during the SIAC Outdoor Championships in the 4x100, 100 hurdles, High Jump and 100 meters. The women’s team also scored the most points in school history.
Smith had 20 Men and Women receive All-Conference certificates at the 2010 SIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He was nominated for the 2010 outdoor South Region Women’s Coach of the Year. He was also nominated for D2 National Coach of the Year. He was the recipient of the 2010 USTFCCCA South Region Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Smith coached Jamaree Gordon, the 2010 South Region Track Athlete of the Year. He was also the recipient of the 2009 USTFCCCA South Region Indoor Women’s Coach of the Year.
Smith also had several student-athletes named to the inaugural USTFCCCA All-Regional teams for Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field and Outdoor Track and Field.
In 2008, Smith was nominated for the D2 South Region Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. In 2007, he had ten men and eight women earn All-Conference at the 2007 SIAC Outdoor Championships. He coached David Osborne to a conference championship in the 800 meters at the 2007 SIAC Outdoor Championship. Smith was nominated for the 2007 South Region Women’s Coach of the Year for the indoor season and Men’s Coach of the Year for the outdoor season.
From 2000-present Smith has coached many athletes to various championships , including Erica Witter, who ran for Canada in the 2000 Olympics and the 2001, 2003 World Outdoor Championships. From 2000-2001, he was the Assistant Track Coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Smith was selected to participate in the 2009 Sprints, Hurdles and Relays Coaches Training Camp in California at the Olympic Training Center. He is a member of the USATF and the USTFCCCA. He is the Co-Advisor for SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) and Chairman for the D2 National Team Rankings Committee.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Knoxville College in 1997.
