After serving as an assistant coach with the program the previous two years, Gene Smith enters his first season as head coach at Cal U in 2012.
While on staff, the Vulcans have compiled an impressive 38-2-6 overall record (.891) and a dominating 24-1-3 mark (.911) in conference play. Cal U also earned berths to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons after previously reaching the post-season only once prior to 2010.
Last season, Cal U established the school record with 20 wins behind the program’s first-ever undefeated regular season. The Vulcans also captured the first league championship in program history and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, losing on the road to the eventual-National Champions. In 2011, Cal U led the PSAC and ranked among the top 10 in the country in both goals and goals-against average (GAA). Smith helped coach a trio of NSCAA All-Americans and a pair of Academic All-Americans last season.
In 2010, Smith helped coach the Vulcans to an 18-1-4 record with a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. That year, Cal U also advanced to the title game of the PSAC Tournament for the first time in program history. The Vulcans featured the highest scoring offense in the league behind the play of PSAC Freshman of the Year Bethany Smyda.
Smith previously served five seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at Plymouth State, an NCAA Division III program in Plymouth, N.H. While with the Panthers, he guided the program to 30-46-10 overall record (.407) with four-straight appearances in the Little East Conference Tournament (2005-08).
In his second year at Plymouth State, Smith guided the program to a three-win improvement before finishing with an 8-9 record in 2007. During his tenure, he coached two-time, all-conference forward Lauren Lavery, who finished her career among the Panthers’ all-time leaders in goals, assists and points.
A native of Connecticut, Smith finished his playing career as a two-year starter at NCAA Division III Norwich (Vt.) after originally playing at Xavier. He has also competed and coached for several premier teams in his home state. Smith also enjoyed success in semi-professional and professional settings with various teams in the United Soccer League (USL) and abroad.
In addition to his collegiate experience, he served as the Director of Coaching for the New Hampshire Classics and was the head coach of the under-17 Olympic Development Program (ODP) team. Under Smith’s direction, the team advanced to the regional finals in back-to-back seasons – a first for New Hampshire Soccer. He also served with the US Youth Soccer ODP in Connecticut and Vermont.
Smith currently holds a “B” license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). He earned his undergraduate degree from Norwich in 1998 before completing a master’s degree from Northeastern (Mass.) in 2009.
