Army West Point Athletics
Smith Honored With Coach K Award
May 07, 2019 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point director of track and field and cross country Mike Smith was honored as a recipient of the Mike Krzyzewski Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport on Monday.Â
Krzyzewski, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach of the Duke men's basketball program, is a 1969 USMA graduate and former Army basketball player and coach. Coach K presented the recipients their awards at the Cadet Mess Hall during the 13th annual awards presentation. The winners were recognized for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership.Â
"I am honored and humbled to be recognized for this award," Smith said. "When I got into this profession, I got into it just thinking I'd go to practice and teach kids to run faster, jump higher and throw far. Having taken a job at the premier leadership institution in the world, I've come to realize that this job is about more than coaching. Receiving this award from one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports is a tremendous honor to me. I got to spend an afternoon with a man who reached the pinnacle of his sport on more than one occasion and I hope I am able to apply some of the things I learned to our craft."Â
Under Smith's tutelage, the Black Knights have seen continued growth within the cross country and track and field programs. During the 2018-19 academic year, Smith guided the men's cross country team to its second consecutive Patriot League Championship. He also led the men's track & field team to its first indoor Patriot League Championship since 2010. Following the season, Smith was named the 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Men's Coach of the Year in the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA.Â
"We are lucky to have the opportunity to work with the kids we get to work with every day and have an impact on their lives and that is what this is all about," Smith said. "I feel lucky to do what I do and awards like these are nice, but the chance to continue to work every day and help kids reach their potential in life is the real award."
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Krzyzewski, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach of the Duke men's basketball program, is a 1969 USMA graduate and former Army basketball player and coach. Coach K presented the recipients their awards at the Cadet Mess Hall during the 13th annual awards presentation. The winners were recognized for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership.Â
"I am honored and humbled to be recognized for this award," Smith said. "When I got into this profession, I got into it just thinking I'd go to practice and teach kids to run faster, jump higher and throw far. Having taken a job at the premier leadership institution in the world, I've come to realize that this job is about more than coaching. Receiving this award from one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports is a tremendous honor to me. I got to spend an afternoon with a man who reached the pinnacle of his sport on more than one occasion and I hope I am able to apply some of the things I learned to our craft."Â
Under Smith's tutelage, the Black Knights have seen continued growth within the cross country and track and field programs. During the 2018-19 academic year, Smith guided the men's cross country team to its second consecutive Patriot League Championship. He also led the men's track & field team to its first indoor Patriot League Championship since 2010. Following the season, Smith was named the 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Men's Coach of the Year in the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA.Â
"We are lucky to have the opportunity to work with the kids we get to work with every day and have an impact on their lives and that is what this is all about," Smith said. "I feel lucky to do what I do and awards like these are nice, but the chance to continue to work every day and help kids reach their potential in life is the real award."
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