FARMINGTON, Utah (May 30, 2025) – Following his final Big Sky Conference championship event, Northern Arizona Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Mike Smith has been named Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.
These awards are voted on by the league’s head coaches. The vote for both awards was unanimous.
For Smith, this marked his seventh Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year title, and his fifth Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year title.
Smith’s Lumberjacks swept the 2025 Big Sky Conference Championships in Sacramento, California, and in fairly dominant fashion too.
The Lumberjack women scored 222 points, outpacing Montana State’s 158.5 to claim their fifth-consecutive title outdoors. The Bobcats were followed by Montana in third, as the Grizzlies finished with 100 points.
That marks NAU’s 16
th outdoor title in the Big Sky all-time for its women’s program.
On the men’s side, Northern Arizona scored 227.5 points to secure the team victory a year removed from being beaten by Montana State in Bozeman. The Bobcats finished second this year, scoring 154 points. Montana also rounded out the top-three in the men’s standings, scoring 107 points.
The victory marked the 25
th title in NAU’s Big Sky history on the men’s side.
In total, across cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field, Smith will finish his career at Northern Arizona with 41 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year honors. In August, NAU announced that Smith would step down at the conclusion of the 2024-25 seasons to purse professional coaching opportunities.
NAU associate head coach, Jarred Cornfield, will step into Smith’s role in July.
Smith is currently coaching the Lumberjacks through NCAA West First Round competition, which will conclude tomorrow.
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