Robert Smith enters his 12th season with the Albany State University Cross Country and Track & Field program and begins his first season as Head Cross Country Coach while continuing to serve as an Assistant Track & Field Coach.
Since joining the Golden Rams coaching staff in 2014, Smith has played an integral role in elevating Albany State into one of the premier NCAA Division II programs in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Throughout his tenure, the Golden Rams have captured multiple SIAC team championships while producing conference champions, school record holders, NCAA National Championship qualifiers, All-Americans, and NCAA Division II national runners-up.
Smith was appointed Head Cross Country Coach prior to the 2026 season after serving as the program's assistant cross country coach for the previous two championship seasons. During that time, he helped guide the Lady Golden Rams to back-to-back SIAC Women's Cross Country Championships (2024 & 2025) while earning SIAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors in both seasons.Under his leadership, Albany State has reestablished itself as one of the conference's premier distance programs while continuing to develop student-athletes both competitively and academically.
In track and field, Smith coaches the middle-distance and distance athletes while assisting with the overall success of the program. Throughout his career, he has coached numerous SIAC individual champions, conference medalists, NCAA qualifiers, school record holders, and All-Americans.
Among his most notable athletes is Albany State Record Holder Joshua Ajiero, the school record holder in the 800 meters (1:48.24). Under Smith's guidance, Ajiero won four SIAC championships, earned two NCAA Division II All-American 1st Team honors, and finished third overall in 2018 before placing fifth overall in 2019.
Smith is committed to continual professional development and holds several nationally recognized coaching certifications. He is a USATF Level 2 Certified Coach in Endurance(2018), Sprints/Hurdles/Relays(2019), and Jumps(2026), as well as a USATF Cross Country Specialist(2022). He also holds a USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning Certification(2016) and has a USAW level 1 Strength Coach Certification.
In 2017, Smith earned a Master of Science in Sport Management with a concentration in Athletic Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Albany State University in 2013.
Before beginning his coaching career, Smith competed for Albany State as a member of the Golden Rams' cross country and track & field teams, where he earned All-SIAC honors as a distance runner.
A native of Albany, Georgia, Smith is a 2008 graduate of Monroe Comprehensive High School. He is a proud member of the Mighty Chi Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Spring 2013) and is the proud father of two daughters, Rylee and Raelyn.
