The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show

Office Hours: Oklahoma State Coach Dave Smith On Building An NCAA Track And Cross Country Powerhouse, How He Recruits Athletes + More

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Mar 7, 2025

Dave Smith, Oklahoma State's track and cross country coach, is a four-time National Coach of the Year renowned for building a championship powerhouse. In this conversation, he discusses navigating pressure, the emotional challenges athletes face, and the integrity of his recruitment process amidst coaching challenges. Smith shares his insights on cultivating a positive team culture and innovative training techniques, including the use of technology. He emphasizes the psychology of racing, highlighting how mental readiness and camaraderie shape success in athletics.

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ADVICE

Balance Season Load Carefully

Tailor race strategies carefully; overcooking athletes during the season can lead to poor race outcomes.
Progression plans should prevent burnout while ensuring peak performance on race day.

ANECDOTE

Managing Pre-Race Nerves

Coach Smith copes with pre-race nerves by talking through scenarios with assistant coaches.
He mocks rival coaches humorously to distract himself from stress.

INSIGHT

Winning Over Process Focus

Despite modern coaching emphasis on process, Coach Smith focuses on winning as the ultimate goal.
Process matters but competition and victory drive his coaching philosophy.

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“You can't be someone who shies away from sticking your neck out. I tell our guys: ‘We are trying to win.’ I'll say it publicly. I will say it to anybody. Maybe that puts pressure on us. But life is pressure. Athletics is practice for life. You need to figure out how to handle pressure, how to handle stress, how to handle others’ expectations, your own expectations, and manage it”.

We continue with our office hours episodes as I sit down with Coach Dave Smith, one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA cross country history and the architect behind Oklahoma State's dominance. Since taking the helm in Stillwater, Coach Smith has built a powerhouse program leading Oklahoma State to four NCAA men's cross country titles and a Big 12 record of 13 conference championships. He guided the Cowboys to a historic team performance at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championship, scoring just 49 points, the third lowest winning total since 2000.

Coach Smith’s accolades don't stop there. He's a four-time National Coach of the Year, a Team USA coach on the world stage, and a leader of a program that has consistently produced NCAA champions, All-Americans, and world-class athletes like German Fernandez, Taylor Roe, Alex Maier, and Sinclaire Johnson.

In today's episode, we dive into his journey from athlete to coach, how he's cultivated a championship driven environment at Oklahoma State, what's next for his program, his athletes, and his take on the future of distance running in the NCAA and beyond.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Dave Smith | @coach_dave_smith on Instagram

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