Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smith Named National Coach of the Year
November 25, 2009 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Nov. 25, 2009
NEW ORLEANS – Oklahoma State cross country coach Dave Smith added to his lengthy resume today when he was named the Division I National Cross Country Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
Smith led OSU to its second NCAA Championship on Monday and its first since 1954. Using Smith's method of running as a team, the Cowboys were able to sustain through the 10,000 meters and finish 16 points clear of second-place and two-time defending champion Oregon.
In his four years at the helm of the Cowboys, he has led OSU to two Big 12 Championships and four NCAA Midwest Region Championships. In his four trips to the NCAA Championships, his Cowboys have never finished out of the top 10. They posted a 10th-place finish in 2006, a third-place finish in 2007 and an eighth-place finish in 2008.
“It's an honor to be named the National Coach of the Year, but it's more of a team award,” Smith said. “It's a great testament to the guys on the team and the hard work they put in this year. I'm proud of the direction our program is heading.”
It is the third award of the year for Smith who was named Roy Griak Midwest Region Coach of the Year on Nov. 18 and Big 12 Coach of the Year on Nov. 3.
“The awards go to the coach whose team wins,” Smith said. “The guys worked extremely hard this year and things went our way.”
Smith has directed eight runners to All-American honors. Senior Ryan Vail, senior John Kosgei, sophomore Colby Lowe and sophomore Girma Mecheso earned All-American honors in 2009.
“It's been an honor to train under the direction of Coach Smith,” Vail said. “He's been our leader during our rise over the last four years and I'm proud that I was able to run for him.”
Dave Smith Awards
National Coach of the Year – 2009
USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Big 12 Coach of the Year – 2008, 2009
