Gene Smith joined Bluefield State Athletics in July 2024. Smith brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success at multiple levels of collegiate and club soccer to his role as Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Bluefield State University.
Smith joins Bluefield State from Inter CT FC in Norwalk, Connecticut, where he served as the Girls Director and DPL Director. During his tenure, he led the rapid expansion of the girls’ program through strategic recruitment, innovative education initiatives, and structural improvements. He played a key role in elevating the club’s profile by securing entry into national platforms and representing the organization at multiple regional and national events. Previously, he served as Director of Club Development and Marketing at Glacier Surf Soccer Club and the Girls Director and USL W Head Coach at MOBA Soccer Academy.
At the collegiate level, Smith’s impact has been consistently felt across NCAA Division I, II and III programs. Most recently, he served as Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Clayton State University, where he contributed to all facets of the program—including training, recruitment, scheduling, academic monitoring, and logistics.
Smith’s coaching tenures include:
•California University of Pennsylvania (NCAA Division II): Over five seasons, Smith helped guide the program to national rankings each year. During this period, the team captured two PSAC Championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season, advancing to the Sweet 16 once and the Elite Eight twice.
•Davis & Elkins College (NCAA Division II): As Head Coach, Smith earned GMAC Coach of the Year honors in 2015 after leading the program to back-to-back GMAC Regular Season Titles in 2015 and 2016. Under his leadership, the program produced both the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, as well as the CoSIDA Newcomer of the Year. His teams were among the highest-scoring in the nation and remain ranked among the NCAA’s top programs in points per game. Additionally, the team received the NSCAA Team Academic Award from 2014 to 2017.
•Marist College (NCAA Division I): During his time at Marist, the program reached the MAAC Semifinals in each of his seasons, highlighting consistent postseason success within the conference.
Smith also held coaching roles at Colby-Sawyer College and began his career at Plymouth State University, his teams advanced to their respective conference tournaments each of his seasons. He is passionate about player development and program-building, with a commitment to fostering excellence both on and off the field.
Smith holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Comparative Literature from Norwich University, a MS in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, and an MBA from California University of Pennsylvania.
