FARMINGTON, Utah (May 30, 2025) – For the 41
st time in his career, Northern Arizona Director of Cross Country and Track & Field,
Michael Smith, has earned a pair of Big Sky Coach of the Year awards, as the league announced this afternoon that he has been named the Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.
The awards are voted on by the league's head coaches. The votes for both awards was unanimous.
It marks his seventh Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year title and his fifth Men's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year title. The awards followed a sweep of the 2025 Big Sky Outdoor Conference Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
In August, Smith announced he would step down from his position at the end of the outdoor season to pursue professional coaching opportunities after eight seasons at Northern Arizona. Current associate head coach of distance and mid-distance
Jarred Cornfield will step into the role after nine years with the program.
Smith rounds out his career with 41 Big Sky Coach of the Year Awards between cross country and indoor and outdoor track. In addition to his combined 12 outdoor awards, he's earned 15 indoors, and 14 in cross country.
In addition to five national men's cross country titles, Smith has coached 41 Big Sky Championship squads. This season, he guided the program to a calendar sweep, winning the men's and women's Big Sky title in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
The women's won their fifth-consecutive title outdoors by scoring 222 points, ahead of second place Montana State who scored 158.5. It marked NAU's 16
th outdoor title all-time.
The men scored 227.5 points to win its fourth title in the last five years, and the 25
th title in program history.
Northern Arizona returned to Flagstaff with 18 Big Sky Champions and 37 All-Conference honors in all.
Desmond Lott earned Co-Most Valuable Athlete, placing on the podium three times after scoring 22 points for the team.
Shanye Harris was named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year, while
Karrie Baloga won Most Outstanding Performer, and
Maggi Congdon claimed Big Sky's Most Valuable Athlete on the women's side.
Smith is currently coaching 29 individuals plus two relay teams at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in College Station, Texas, ahead of the NCAA National Championship in Eugene, Ore., from June 11-14.
