2003-06-21 Smith
7/21/2004 10:20:23 AM | Softball
MIKE SMITH HIRED AS SOFTBALL COACH
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Monday, July 21, 2003) –Mike Smith, who led Biola to the 2002 NAIA Softball World Series and was the interim head coach at UC Riverside in 2003, was hired today as the new softball coach at California Baptist University.
"I’m really excited," Smith said. "I know CBU is committed to developing young men and women who will impact the world, and I hope that the softball program can be an extension of that mission. This has been a pretty successful program and I’m looking forward to building a solid foundation to last for years to come. One of my goals, as it was at Biola, is to improve the athletes on a daily basis, and reinforcing strong values, work ethic and a sense of dedication."
Smith took over a struggling program (one that had went 17-133 in its five previous seasons) and turned it into one of the nation’s best at Biola, where he went 156-72 in four seasons (1999-2002). Under Smith, the Eagles qualified for the Region II Playoffs in three of his four years, and won the championship in 2002. Smith was named the GSAC Coach of the Year in 2001 as Biola won the conference title. The 2001 squad was also ranked as high as #4 in the country and won a school-record 50 games. He produced three All-Americans, 10 All-GSAC players and seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
"We are thrilled about hiring Mike Smith because of his experience and coaching background," CBU Athletic Director Doug Huckaby said. "He built a great program at Biola and he’ll do the same thing here. He’s a strong Christian man who has already developed a successful program once within the GSAC and because of that, he understands what needs to be done at CBU."
Smith left Biola to become an assistant coach at UC Riverside prior to the 2003 season. However, three days before the season began, the head coach resigned and Smith was elevated to interim head coach. With little time to create his own imprint on the program, the Highlanders went 13-45.
He takes over a Lancer softball program on the rise. CBU set a school record with 42 wins in 2003, finishing 42-21 overall, and fifth place in the GSAC with a 15-13 record. The Lancers have had winning seasons in five of the past six years.
A long-time professional baseball player who had a distinguished career, Smith was a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization from 1992-94, reaching the Class AA level. He also played for a number of independent league teams from 1994-2001, including the Chico (Calif.) Heat, St. George (Utah) Pioneerzz, Mission Viejo (Calif.) Vigilantes, Long Beach (Calif.) Riptide and Regina (Saskatchewan, Canada) Cyclones. In 1997 and 1998, he was the Western Baseball League’s Pitcher of the Year with Mission Viejo, and in 2000, he was MVP of the WBL Championship Series with St. George.
Prior to becoming Biola’s softball coach, he was the pitching coach for the Eagles’ baseball team in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The 1998 squad won the GSAC title. Smith was also a teacher and coach at Heritage Christian School in Anaheim, Calif., from 1993-96. At various times, he was a head coach for baseball, boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball, as well as an assistant football coach and assistant athletic director.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from The Master’s College in 1992. He earned all-conference honors in 1991 and 1992 as a pitcher on the baseball team. Smith went on to receive a teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton in 1998.
