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Jerry Smith

Jerry Smith

  • Class
  • Induction
    2019
  • Sport(s)
    Athletic Administrator, Head Coach, Track & Field, Men, Cross Country, Men
Jerry Smith is credited with starting the UWA Track and Field and Cross Country programs, teaming with M.K. Turk to build a dirt track complete with jump pits, throwing areas, pole vault and high jump areas. Under his leadership, Livingston won five conference championships, had 11 NCAA qualifiers and one All-American. Following the 1971 season, he accepted the track coaching position at Auburn, propelling the program to multiple NCAA top 10 finishes, as well as numerous All-Americans and 12 Olympians. In 2012 he was appointed to the UWA Board of Trustees and in 2016 became president of the board.  In 2017 Auburn presented him the Walter Gilbert Award. As an athlete at Auburn, he won the SEC Outdoor 440 and also set the 440 record. He won two SEC Indoor 440 championships.
 
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