Smith_Andrew 2020

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith was named Marywood University's Director of Athletics and Recreation in December 2022 after serving as the Interim Director since September 2022 (press release). As Director of Athletics and Recreation, Smith has oversight of 22 NCAA Division III sports plus esports, nearly 400 student-athletes, compliance, budget, fundraising and development.

Smith's believes there is no better time to be a Marywood Pacer and his strategic plan for the Athletics and Recreation Department is as simple as three-two-one. Smith wants to see all teams and every student-athlete achieve at least a 3.0 GPA, wants every team to finish in the Top-2 of conference play, and wants all athletic teams, student-athletes, coaches and administrators to be one team representing the University. Under Smith, Marywood has ranked in the Learfield Cup Dvision 3 standings in each of his three years, a first in Marywood history. Marywood finished 194th in 2024-25, their highest finished ever.

In addition to those goals, Smith's priorities and initiatives include enhancing Marywood's athletic facilities and the mental health and well-being of student-athletes and the coaching staff. Smith is also focused on the recruitment of the right student-athlete for Marywood athletics and the retention athletes and non-athletes alike, believing in Marywood's core values and motto of "Sanctitas, Scientia, Sanitas (Holiness, Knowledge, Health). 

Prior to being named Director, Smith served as the University's Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation for External Operations from 2019-2022 where he was involved in all facets of the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and oversaw external operations. He served as the University's Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation for Communications from 2010-2019 and spent six years as Director of Sports Information and Athletics Promotion (2004-2010). As Associate Director, Smith helped the University ink a deal with Nike and BSN to make them the University's apparel and equipment provider, and helped redesign the Athletics logo and website numerous times.

A 3-0 victory over Cairn University on April 25, 2021 gave Smith his 200th career women's soccer coaching victory, all of which came at Marywood. Smith is the second winningest coach in department history (Bob Fitzsimmons, Softball). At the conclusion of the 2022 season - his last at the helm - Smith led the women's soccer team to 15 consecutive post-season tournaments (17 overall) as well as conference titles in 2008, 2016, 2018 and 2022. NCAA Tournament berths for the Pacers came in 2008, 2016 and 2022. The 2018 championship season did not come with an automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament as it was the Atlantic East Conference's first year of existence. Smith and his staff were honored with Coach/Coaching Staff of the Year honors seven times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2021).

Under Smith’s leadership, the women's soccer team amassed an overall record of 224-165-29 (.571) in 23 seasons with a 137-44-16 (.736) mark in Conference play (22 seasons - no conference season in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic). Smith’s teams earned numerous distinctions on and off the field, including 18 Team Academic Awards, 13 Team Ethics Awards from the United Soccer Coaches and three team Academic Awards for having the highest GPA in the conference. Numerous individual players saw success under Smith's leadership including 11 All-Region, nine Academic All-Region, seven Conference Player of the Year, four Conference Rookie of the Year, four Conference Tournament MVPs, 376 Conference All-Academic selections and 108 All-Conference honorees.

Outside of Marywood, Smith is a certified United States Soccer Federation (USSF), National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) referee and refereed the 2023 PIAA Girls Soccer Championship game. A 1997 graduate of King’s College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Smith obtained his M.S.S. degree with a concentration in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2005.

In the spring of 2024, Smith earned membership in the Order Cor Mariae-Pro Fide et Cultura, Marywood University. 

 THE ANDREW SMITH FILE

ATHLETICS EXPERIENCE

2022-Present: Marywood, Director of Athletics and Recreation
2019-22-: Marywood, Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation for External Operations
2010-19: Marywood, Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation for Communication
2004-10: Marywood, Director of Sports Information and Athletic Promotions
2003-04: Executive Director, New River United Soccer Association (NRUSA), Blacksburg, Virginia
1998-2002, 2005-22: Marywood, Head Women's Soccer Coach

EDUCATION

B.A., King's '97, Political Science
M.S.S., United States Sports Academy '05, Sports Management

MARYWOOD ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS UNDER SMITH'S LEADERSHIP

There's no better time to be a Marywood student-athlete or staff member. Some programs, initiatives and facility enhancements Smith implemented include, but are not limited to: 
  • Numerous mental health and well-being initiatives, seminars and training programs for student-athletes, including but not limited to:
    • CogWell peer-to-peer active listening training for student-athletes
    • Zama health app partnership for mental health & sports psychology resources for coaches and student-athletes
    • MU Morgan's Message chapter - mental health advocates 
    • Conflict Resolution training for student-athlete leaders
    • Gaining the Mental Edge seminar with Sports Psychologist Dr. Joel Fish
    • Creation of Student-Athlete resource page
    • Sports Psychology seminar, classes, programming and 1:1 sessions for athletes & coaches with Sports Psychologist and Professional Soccer Coach Stewart Flaherty
    • Partnership with VOLT strength and conditioning, hired Strength & Conditioning coach
  • Sports Psychology training and Zama health app for head coaches
  • DEI training and programming for athletics staff
  • Numerous facility enhancements inclusive of:
    • $300,000+ Lynett Haggerty Family Fitness Center renovation in summer 2024 (all new strength and cardio equipment plus turf)
    • Addition of a 'Recovery Room' - powered by Hyperice - equipment featuring leg sleeves, arm sleeves, and massage guns, massage balls and massage rollers. 
    • Newly designed Insalaco Arena court for Volleyball, Men's and Women's Basketball, intramural and recreation
    • Athletics "Recruiting Suite"
    • Security cameras within the Center for Athletics and Wellness
    • Baseball and Softball Field scoreboard upgrades and spectator seating
    • "Refueling" station for athletes - partnered with Pacers Pantry and Pacers on the Go for a Hunger Free Campus grant
  • MASCAC affiliation for men's golf (press release)
  • Creation of the "Impact Employee of the Month" athletics staff member award and "Impact Employee of the Year" award presented to a non-athletics administrator, staff or faculty member for support of Marywood athletics throughout the year
  • Addition of Women's Flag Football program, beginning as club sport in spring 2025 with first varsity competitive season in spring 2026. 
In addition to those initiatives and highlights under Smith's tenure, teams, coaches and student-athletes have continued to thrive on the field and in the classroom. Since the fall of 2022, Marywood athletics has (as of 3/12/25): 
  • 3 NCAA Division III Championships team appearances
  • 8 NCAA Division III Championships individual qualifiers
  • 10 Atlantic East Conference championships
  • 9 Atlantic East Conference runner-up finishes
  • 12 Conference Athlete of the Year winners
  • 11 Conference Rookie of the Year awardees
  • 8 Conference Coaching Staff of the Year winners
  • 1 All-American (Jack Baronski, Men's Cross Country, 2024)
  • 1 All-Region Coaching Staff (Field Hockey, NFHCA, 2024)
  • 32 All-Region student-athletes
  • 109 First Team All-Atlantic East recipients
  • 105 Second Team All-Atlantic East recipients
  • 3.40 Average Student-Athlete GPA across all sports (fall 2022-present)
  • 18 Conference Team Academic Awards (highest GPA)
  • 440 Atlantic East All-Academic Team honorees
  • 1 CSC Academic All-American
  • 111 CSC Academic All-District honorees
  • 13 Atlantic East Elite 20 winners