Now entering his third year at Bryant University, Director of Athletics Bill Smith has led one of the most successful athletics departments throughout the region during the past two years and has the department ready as it makes its move to Division I starting in 2008-09.
A former Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration at Iowa State University, Smith was named Athletic Director at Bryant on April 10, 2006.
Since arriving at Bryant University in the spring of 2006, the Bulldogs won two Northeast-10 Conference Presidents' Cup trophies while garnering 8 regular season and 5 conference tournament championships. A total of 17 teams participated in NCAA Championships including football qualifying back to back in 2006 and 2007 and a final four finish for men's lacrosse. Under Smith's guidance, Bryant's student-athletes posted the highest semester G.P.A. ever in the fall of 2008 with 215 student-athletes exceeding a 3.0 g.p.a. and 33% earning Dean's List Honors. The 2007-08 year ended with Bryant being placed among the top schools in the country with a final ranking of 17 in the NACDA Director's Cup Standings.
In addition, Bryant not only started its transition to Division I but gained full membership into the Northeast Conference.
Prior to arriving at Bryant, Smith spent eight years at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He joined Iowa State as compliance director in 1998 before he was promoted to associate athletics director in 2002 and senior associate athletics director in 2005.
At Iowa State, Smith managed oversight responsibilities for
facilities, event management, licensing, compliance, academic
services, sports medicine, athletic training, and strength and
conditioning. During his tenure, ISU completed a $10
million dollar indoor training facility, a $1 million dollar
renovation of Jack Trice Stadium, installed a $170,000 permanent
lighting system at the Soccer Complex, increased licensing revenue
by partnering with LRG, and achieved an 89 % graduation rate for
student-athletes that exhausted eligibility. Smith
served on the University Steering Committee for NCAA second cycle
certification in 2003 whereby ISU achieved second cycle
certification without conditions. Iowa State's football
program was selected to participate in bowl games four out of five
years. Gymnastics, wrestling, football, women's indoor track,
men's and women's basketball all ranked in the Top 20 nationally
while wrestling finished #2 in the country in 2002 and
#6 in 2004.
Prior to joining the Iowa State staff, Smith served as executive
associate director for compliance and championships at the Patriot
League for one year. In that role, he managed 19 conference
championships, was the conference's primary liaison with all
coaches groups, and directed league-wide compliance education
programs.
A native of Auburn, NY, Smith graduated from Colgate University in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in political science. During his time at Colgate, Smith played both football and lacrosse from 1985 to 1989. He was awarded the Tom Dodge Award in 1989 for exemplifying outstanding effort, determination and performance.
Smith earned his law degree from Quinnipiac College of Law in 1995 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1996.
Smith and his wife Maura have four children: Molly, Liam, Daniel and Marin.
BILL SMITH TIMELINE
* Participated in football and lacrosse at Colgate from 1985 to 1989
* 1990 graduate of Colgate University
* Assistant Football Coach at Wagner College, 1990-92
* 1995 graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law
* Student-Athlete Advisor / Compliance Coordinator at Wagner College, 1995-97
* Executive Director of Compliance and Championships at Patriot League, 1997-98
* Compliance Director at Iowa State, 1998-2002
* Associate Athletic Director at Iowa State, 2002-05
* Senior Associate Athletic Director at Iowa State, 2005 to May, 2006
* Bryant University Director of Athletics, June, 2006
