Mike Smith (running coach)
American track and field coach (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mike Smith (born April 3, 1980)[1] is an American coach who was the director of cross country and track and field at Northern Arizona University from 2017 to 2025.[2][3][4] As the head coach of the men's and women's programs, he led the men's teams to five NCAA Division I men's cross country championships titles.[5] In 2025, he left NAU to coach professional athletes sponsored by Nike, while still based in Flagstaff, Arizona.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1980 |
| Playing career | |
| 1998–2000 | James Madison |
| 2000–2002 | Georgetown |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2006–2012 | Team Run Flagstaff |
| 2012–2016 | Georgetown |
| 2016–2025 | Northern Arizona |
| 2025-present | Nike Swoosh TC |
| Born | Michael Smith |
| Spouse | Rachel 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 outcome.[6][7]
Prior to Northern Arizona University
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.[8]
After initially competing for James Madison University, Smith completed his collegiate running career at Georgetown University.[9] 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.[8] In 2006, he moved to Flagstaff, where he worked under Dr. Jack Daniels at the NAU Center for High Altitude Training and founded Team Run Flagstaff.[10] 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.[8] Following the closure of the Center for High Altitude Training in early 2009, Smith worked for Hypo2 helping organize altitude training camps for elite athletes in multiple sports.
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.[2]
As director of Northern Arizona cross country and track
Smith joined the NAU cross country coaching staff in fall 2016 in anticipation of the retirement of the current head coach, Eric Heins.[11] 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 2025, Smith departed NAU to lead a Nike-sponsored professional running team based in Flagstaff.[12]
Men's NCAA DI cross country championship team results
| Year | NCAA Champions | Runner-up | Score | Top-10 Individual Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017[13] | NAU | Portland | 74–127 | 2nd Matthew Baxter, 3rd Tyler Day, 8th Peter Lomong |
| 2018[14] | NAU | BYU | 83–116 | 6th Tyler Day |
| 2019[15] | BYU | NAU | 109–163 | |
| 2020 | NAU | Notre Dame | 60–87 | 4th Nico Young, 6th Blaise Ferro, 7th Abdihamid Nur, 9th Luis Grijalva |
| 2021[16] | NAU | Iowa State | 92–137 | 7th Abdihamid Nur |
| 2022[17] | NAU | Oklahoma State | 83–83* 3–2 tiebreak | 2nd Nico Young, 3rd Drew Bosley |
| 2023[18] | Oklahoma State | NAU | 49–71 | 5th Drew Bosley,
6th Nico Young |
Women's NCAA DI cross country championship team results
Individual NCAA titles and records
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,[2] and Nico Young in the 3000 m and 5000 m in 2024.[22] 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.[23][24]
Athletes trained by Mike Smith
Current
- Donavan Brazier
(2025–present)[25] - Luis Grijalva
(2017–present)[26] - Elly Henes (2021–present)[27]
- Woody Kincaid (2023–present)[28]
- Abdihamid Nur (2017–present)[26]
- Galen Rupp (2020–present)[29]
- Colin Sahlman (2022–present)[30]
- Rachel Smith (2013–present)[31]
- Nico Young (2020–present)[32]
Former
- Matt Baxter
(2016–2018) - George Beamish (2016–2020)
- Nikki Hiltz (2022–2025)[33][34]
- Andy Trouard (2016–2018)
- Elly Henes(2022–2024)
Championship results by professional athletes
| 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 | |
| 2018 | USA Championships | Rachel Smith | 1,500 m | 4th | 4:08.33 |
| Rachel Smith | 5,000 m | 2nd | 15:32.71 | ||
| 2019 | USA Championships | Rachel Smith | 5,000 m | 4th | 15:17.91 |
| World Championships | Rachel Smith | 5,000 m | 19th | 15:30.00 | |
| 2021 | 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 | 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 | 10,000 m | 2nd | 27:50.74 | ||
| Abdihamid Nur | 5,000 m | 2nd | 13:09.01 | ||
| 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
Smith was born in 1980 and was raised in Princeton, Massachusetts.[9][8][1] Smith is married to professional runner Rachel Schneider (now Rachel Smith).[31] 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.[35]