blank  David Smith
	Position: Assistant Coach/Head Cross Country Coach Experience: 3rd Year Alma Mater: Michigan State, '93

Dr. David Smith enters his third year with the Texas Tech program as the he ad cross country coach and an assistant track and field coach.

Smith made his first mark on the Red Raider program in the 1998 cross country season, his first season at the helm of the harrier program. He implemented a rigorous workout program and challenged both the men and women to work harder and achieve more than in the past.

Under his guidance, a majority of the team posted career-high marks during the season. Kristen Koppes was in the top-25 in all four regular season meets in which she competed. David Leigh set a personal-best time at the Big 12 championships and finished in the top 30.

Both runners advanced to the NCAA Regional championships, and two other women, Tara Hangge and Courtney Nolen, advanced to the NCAA Regionals.

During the track and field season, Smith's training regimen paid off in a big way as Leigh Daniel became the first Tech athlete to win a national championship in track and field, winning the indoor 5,000 and outdoor 10,000 meter races. Daniel was also the Big 12 Champion in the indoor 5,000 and set a new Big 12 record in the event.

Smith also helped to coach David Leigh to a top 10 finish outdoors in the 5,000 at the Big 12 Championships.

His leadership brought even more success last season when Daniel won three cross country events and four indoor events, including the 3,000 and 5,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships. Daniel earned All-America honors for both the cross country and indoor seasons.

The women's cross country squad also finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas, improving six spots from its 1998 mark.

Smith entered into coaching after an outstanding collegiate career as a distance runner. At Michigan State University, Smith was a top performer for the Spartans from 1990-93. He was the Big Ten champion in the 10,000 meters and runner-up in the 1,500 meters in 1993. Smith was also a three-time all-Big Ten performer and three-time academic All-American as well as seven-time academic all-Big Ten.

After leaving East Lansing, Smith moved to Washington, where he was the competitive manager and women's distance coach for Club Northwest. At Northwest, he led the women's cross country team to a second place finish at the USATF National Cross Championships. Smith also organized several major distance races in the Seattle area.

He also earned his doctorate from the University of Washington in Pharmacology during his stay in Seattle.