2007 National Podium Education Project
John Smith Speaker Bio

Described as a taskmaster with the "Midas touch", John Smith is considered one of the world's best coaches. Known internationally for motivating and assisting his athletes in fulfilling their athletic goals, Smith has had the distinction of coaching elite athletes to Olympic gold medals and world records multiple times.

From 1984 to 2001, Coach Smith flourished as the men’s track coach at UCLA, grooming young athletes to five consecutive Olympic Games. In 1999, John Smith’s protégé, Maurice Greene, reclaimed the crown of sprinting for America when he broke the world record in the 100-meter dash.

Coach Smith has consistently produced track and field champions, gold medalists and world record holders, and was honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s national track and field coach of the year in 1999. Steve Lewis, Danny Everett, Marie-Jose Perec, Kevin Young, Inger Miller, Ato Boldon, Quincy Watts, Maurice Greene, Micky Grimes, Tori White, Angela Williams and Nicole Denby and others have all benefited from the insight and guidance of Coach Smith.

Highly respected by those he works with, Coach Smith is brilliant in his role as coach and mentor to young athletes just getting started and to veterans who still learn from his expertise. He teaches them how to be champions on the track and beyond.

A fine all-around athlete, Mr. Smith holds the 440-yard dash title from 1971 and was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team in Munich.

Coach Smith has consistently produced champions and assisted college athletes in becoming professionals. He was honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee's national track and field coach of the year in 1999 and was recently named Head Coach of the 2005 USA National Team.

A native of California, John Smith makes his home in Los Angeles, California with his wife and daughter.