Cross Country

JOHN SMITH Head Coach (2006-)

Following a rich history of success forged by longtime coaches Rich Allen (1969-1987) and Wes Cook (1987-2006), former George Fox University athlete and assistant coach John Smith ushered in a new era in Bruin cross country and track and field when he assumed head coaching duties of the programs in the summer of 2006.

In his first year, Smith’s programs produced one All-Northwest Conference and four NCAA Division III All-West Region runners in cross country, and six Northwest Conference champions in track and field. Six Bruins competed in the NCAA Division III National Championships in track and field in 2007, with a pair of All-Americans that included national men’s javelin champion Joel Krebs, and a tie for 18th place in the men’s nationals.

A native of Lakeside, Ore., Smith was a football and track athlete at North Bend (Ore.) High School, earning all-state and district honors in both sports and setting a school record in the triple jump. At George Fox, he changed his focus from the jumps to the challenges of the decathlon. He was a national qualifier in the decathlon three times and twice in the pole vault, claiming NAIA All-American status in the decathlon in both 1994 and 1995. At the time of graduation, he held top-10 marks in eight events at George Fox, including a school record which still stands in the decathlon his junior year (7,138 points) and second in the pole vault (15 feet, 7 inches).

After completing his bachelor’s degree in health and human performance (fitness management emphasis) in 1996, Smith continued to compete and earned a U.S. national ranking in the decathlon. While competing for Oregon International, he won the University of Oregon Invitational and took second at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in the decathlon before a career-ending injury sidelined him from the sport. Realizing that his true dedication to the sport would best be served coaching and mentoring athletes, he began coaching the jumps and multi-events and worked to earn a master’s degree in sport science, which he completed in 2003.

Returning to George Fox as an assistant coach in 1998 after a year as an assistant at Cascade College, Smith worked primarily with the Bruins’ jumps, javelin, and multi-event athletes. Under his tutelage, the Bruins had the NCAA Division III national runner-up in the decathlon (Ben Dillow) and the women’s high jump (Michelle Forbes) in 2005. The team followed that up with three All-American decathletes (Seth Harris, fifth; Josh Priester, seventh; and Ryan Forbes, eighth) in 2006. The jumps group earned multiple Northwest Conference championships in the long jump (six), triple jump (six), and high jump (three). Smith had 31 NCAA Division III national meet qualifiers, three national runner-ups, and 12 All-Americans during his stint as an assistant.

“The success of our program is a true testament to the athletes we have,” says Smith. “I am continually amazed at the level of dedication and work the athletes are willing to put in to reach that next level. The team is also very Christ-centered and provides a family-like atmosphere that breeds success. We work hard and have fun doing it. It is truly a blessing to be able to coach athletes in this program, and I enjoy every minute of it.”

Smith is also quick to credit his assistants as a major reason for the programs’ continued success, saying, “I believe that my staff will be the reason this program will continue to uphold the Bruin track and field tradition. I am confident that they could coach at any level, and they have the knowledge to help us become a nationally recognized team.”

“We are pleased to be able to move John into the position of head coach,” said director of athletics Craig Taylor when Smith was hired. “John’s work with the multi-events gives him a well-rounded knowledge of everything it takes to run a successful track program. We believe our track and cross country programs will continue to be in capable hands for years to come with Coach Smith.”

Smith resides in Newberg, Ore., and is married to former Bruin track and cross country All-American Dawn Hartwig, also a 1996 George Fox graduate. John and Dawn have three children, Davis (8), Jaci (6), and Blake (4). In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing his hobbies of surfing, BMX, and fishing.