Mike Smith

Mike Smith (born April 3, 1980) is an American coach who was the director of cross country and track and field at Northern Arizona University from 2017 to 2025. 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. In 2025, he left NAU to coach professional athletes sponsored by Nike, while still based in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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.

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.

After initially competing for James Madison University, Smith completed his collegiate running career at Georgetown University. 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. 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. 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.

Men's NCAA DI cross country championship team results 2017 NAU Portland 74–1272nd Matthew Baxter, 3rd Tyler Day, 8th Peter Lomong 2018 NAU BYU 83–1166th Tyler Day 2019 BYUNAU 109–163 2020NAU Notre Dame 60–874th Nico Young, 6th Blaise Ferro, 7th Abdihamid Nur, 9th Luis Grijalva 2021 NAU Iowa State 92–1377th Abdihamid Nur 2022 NAU Oklahoma State 83–83* 3–2 tiebreak 2nd Nico Young, 3rd Drew Bosley 2023 Oklahoma StateNAU 49–71 5th Drew Bosley, 6th Nico Young

Women's NCAA DI cross country championship team results 2017 11th6th Taryn O'Neill 202123rd 2022 2nd

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, Abdihamid Nur in the 3000m and 5000m in 2022, 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.

Athletes trained by Mike Smith Current Donavan Brazier (2025–present) Luis Grijalva (2017–present) Elly Henes (2021–present) Woody Kincaid (2023–present) Abdihamid Nur (2017–present) Colin Sahlman (2022–present) Rachel Smith (2013–present) Nico Young (2020–present)

Former Matt Baxter (2016–2018) George Beamish (2016–2020) Nikki Hiltz (2022–2025) Andy Trouard (2016–2018) Elly Henes(2022–2024)

Championship results by professional athletes

Personal Smith was born in 1980 and was raised in Princeton, Massachusetts.