Former West De Pere Athletic Director Greg Smith is one of eight athletic directors who will be awarded with a National Federation of State High School Associations citations on Dec. 16 in Anaheim, Calif., during luncheon festivities at the 44th annual National Athletic Directors Conference sponsored jointly by the NFHS and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
NFHS Citations are presented annually to outstanding athletic directors in recognition of contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state and national levels. State associations nominate athletic directors for NFHS Citations, and the NFHS Board of Directors approves recipients.
Smith’s 26-year career in education was divided between Oregon and Wisconsin after one year at a middle school in Bellingham, Wash., to begin his career. He retired this past summer after 10 years as district activities director. As activities director at West De Pere, Smith was responsible for numerous tasks in the areas of student services, curriculum and instruction, and district activities.
Since his retirement, He has continued to serve as executive director of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. Prior to becoming executive director of WADA, Smith served a term as president.
Prior to moving to Wisconsin 10 years ago, Smith served in Hermiston, Ore., for 15 years. He was a teacher and coach at the middle school level for four years before joining the Hermiston High School staff in 1992. Smith was a teacher, coach and assistant principal, and also served as district activities director for his final six years.
Among his awards, Smith has been honored with the Inter-Mountain Conference Coach of the Year in 1994 and Inter-Mountain Conference Athletic Director of the Year, Oregon 4A Classification Athletic Director of the Year and State of Oregon Athletic Director of the Year in 2003. In 2008, Smith received District 4 Wisconsin Athletic Director of the Year honors. Smith also served as president of the Oregon Athletic Directors Association.
Smith earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and his master’s degree at Eastern Oregon University. Along with his 26-year career in secondary education, Smith attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve before retiring after 27 years. His last position he held was Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 416th Regiment, 104th Division. His unit was responsible for basic combat training and advanced infantry skills training for an estimated 1,300 trainees during an eight-week cycle. His unit contained more than 250 soldiers and an inventory in excess of $10 million.
After his retirement from West De Pere, Smith relocated to Apple River, Illinois.
Other citation recipients are Rich Bechard, district athletic director, Blue Valley Schools, Overland Park, Kansas; Maurice “Bud” Campbell, retired athletic director, Murray (Utah) High School; Roger Dixon, athletic director, Socastee High School, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Mark Horak, athletic director, Lake Oswego (Oregon) High School; Fred Lilly, deputy superintendent, Camden (Arkansas) Fairview Schools; Bruce Phelps, retired coordinator of student activities, Virginia Beach (Virginia) City Public Schools; and Patrick Pizzarelli, assistant superintendent for student and community affairs, Lawrence (New York) Public Schools.
Release prepared by Shane Monaghan, NFHS graphic arts technician/editorial assistant