Former Miami standout Ryan Smith returned to the RedHawks' track and field program shortly after graduating, officially joining the coaching staff as Assistant Coach (Throws) in August 2023.
Â
During the 2024-25 season, Smith mentored Ella Rigel to school-record performances in the weight throw (indoor) and hammer (outdoor). She captured bronze in the weight throw as the MAC Indoor Championships while the RedHawks placed seventh as a team. Four different throwers (Rigel-hammer, Adam Smith-discus, Allie Melchiorre-javelin, Matthew Howard-javelin) earned top-three finishes at the MAC Outdoor Championships, with Rigel, Smith and Melchiorre also qualifying for the NCAA East First Round that spring. Miami’s men’s and women’s programs each finished fifth at the MAC outdoor meet as a team. The RedHawks’ track and field/cross country program produced a total of 11 All-MAC awards and 64 Academic All-MAC honors in 2024-25, as well as three Academic All-District performers.
Â
During Smith's first season on staff, the RedHawk women posted a second consecutive top-five team finish at the MAC Championships for the first time in more than a decade. Miami’s women also finished in the top five at the MAC Outdoor Championships in the spring, with the men coming in seventh. Miami produced eight All-MAC honorees between the indoor and outdoor campaigns and qualified three student-athletes for the NCAA East First Round, including Ella Rigel in the hammer. The Red and White collected 60 Academic All-MAC awards between cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, along with two Academic All-District selections.
Smith, who won Miami Athletics' Darrell Hedric Award as a student-athlete in 2023 after earning the Phillip Shriver Graduating Champions Medal of Honor the previous year, finished his RedHawk competitive career with an individual title in the discus at the 2023 MAC Outdoor Championships. He was named MAC Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer and First-Team All-MAC in 2023.
Â
Smith finished in the top 10 of four different individual events at the MAC meet for each of his final three seasons and ranks in the top 10 in program history in all four events. Smith was also recognized as the conference's Field Freshman of the Year in 2019 and qualified for the NCAA East Prelims in the discus in 2022, and served as a team captain with the RedHawks.
Â
Smith has previously been honored as Academic All-MAC, a USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete and a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. He owns a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Miami University and completed his Master's in Sports Leadership and Management in 2023.
Â
