Smith Named Interim Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation

Veteran administrator and coach is in his 23rd year with Marywood Athletics

Scranton, Pa. — Longtime administrator and Head Coach Andrew Smith was named the Interim Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation at Marywood University, announced Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., President on Tuesday. Smith assumes the leadership role in his 23rd year of service to Marywood's athletics department.

"I would like to thank Sister Mary Persico and Rob Piurowski (Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success) for entrusting me with this opportunity to lead Marywood's Athletics and Recreation Department," Smith said. "Student-athlete welfare and the student-athlete experience will always be our top priority, and I know we already have a strong staff of coaches and administrators in place to make this a smooth transition."

He previously served as the University's Associate Director of Athletics where he is 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 2010-19. Prior to that, he served six years as Director of Sports Information and Athletics Promotion (2004-10).

"As Andrew Smith assumes the role of Interim Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, I am confident that he can move this important division forward," Sr. Persico said. "He has been a loyal member of the Marywood Athletics community for 22 years and has a proven track record for coaching, networking, leading, and understanding the role of athletics in the life of an institution of higher education. I wish him, and his Associate Director, Nicole Malloy, a productive and successful year."

As Associate AD, Smith had oversight for external operations of the Athletics Department, including fundraising and development. He helped the University ink a deal wth Nike and BSN to make them the Department's apparel and equipment provider, and helped redesign the current Athletics logo and website numerous times. In addition, he oversaw the Athletics Communications division within the Department.

Smith recently completed his 22nd season as Head Women's Soccer Coach at Marywood in the fall of 2021. A victory over Cairn University on April 25, 2021 gave Smith his 200th career coaching victory in an abbreviated 2020-21 season. At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Smith had led the Pacers to 14 consecutive post-season tournaments (16 overall). Under his leadership, the Pacers have won two Colonial States Athletic Championships (2008, 2016) and an Atlantic East Championship (2018). Smith guided the Marywood to a pair of NCAA Division III Championships appearances in 2008 and 2016.

Prior to the 2022 season, the women's soccer team amassed an overall record of 213-158-27 (.569) in 22 seasons with a 132-44-15 (.730) mark in conference play in 21 seasons (no conference season in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic) under Smith's leadership. Over the past 14 seasons, the Pacers have gone an astounding 106-17-14 (.825) in league play where they qualified for the conference post-season each time. During his tenure, Smith's teams have registered at least 10 wins 12 times (seven consecutive from 2006-2012) and have finished the conference regular season in first place, or tied for first, nine times. Smith has also been named the conference's 'Coach of the Year' on seven occasions — 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2021.

Smith's teams have earned numerous distinctions on and off the field, including 18 Team Academic Awards, 11 Team Ethics Awards from the United Soccer Coaches and two Colonial States Athletic Conference Team Academic Awards (2015, 2016) for having the highest team GPA in the conference. Smith holds the LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion diploma from the United Soccer Coaches and completed a Diversity Cohort at Marywood in the spring of 2021.

Marywood players have also earned numerous distinctions on the field and in the classroom. Through the Fall 2021 season, 354 women's soccer players have earned Academic All-Conference accolades in Smith's 22 seasons at the helm while his teams have maintained a 3.38 grade point average (GPA) in the 43 semesters he has been the coach.

A native of the Ithaca, N.Y. area, Smith is a 1997 graduate of King's College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He obtained his M.S.S. degree with a concentration in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2005.

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