Coaching Staff

Head Coach Hayden Smith

Hayden Smith, a 1970 Albion College graduate, is in his fourth year of a dual role as head coach for both cross country and women's track.

Smith has coached the Briton cross country teams to new heights. The Albion men have been the runner-up in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2002, 2003, and 2004. In 2003 and 2004 the Britons finished second to the eventual NCAA Division III national champions. Also in 2003, the Britons finished second at the Great Lakes Regional meet to earn the opportunity to run as a team at the NCAA Division III Championships, finishing 18th. Athletes to achieve all-region status for Smith include: Nick Mockeridge (‘02, ’03), Adam Dohm (’02, ’03, ’04), Ted Gast (‘03), Noah Lopez (‘03), Taurean Wilson (‘04), and Clark Richter (‘04).  

The women's cross country team has continued to grow in number and in success. The women have continued to show improvement in the MIAA standings and they finished 5th in 2001, 4th in 2002, 4th in 2003, and third in 2004. They have also climbed the ladder at the regional competition improving from 25th in 2001, to 24th in 2002, to 20th in 2003, and 16th in 2004. In 2004 Smith coached his first two all-MIAA first team runners as Alyson Howe and Megan Fitzpatrick completed the feat. Smith has also coached five athletes to all-MIAA second team distinctions.

Albion cross country teams also excel in the classroom as both teams have earned recognition from the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association with Academic All-America team awards from 2001-03. Individually, three Albion cross-country runners have garnered Academic All-America honors from the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association.

In his days as an Albion track performer under then-coach Dean Dooley, Smith excelled in a number of events. He held the record in the long jump at 23 feet for several years, had a top clearance of 6-feet, 5-inches in the high jump, and ran the 100 and 220 (yard) dashes. Among his teammates was current Albion College men's track coach Dave Egnatuk.

After graduation, Smith moved into teaching and coaching in Arizona, serving as cross country coach at Flowing Wells High School in the Tucson area for 26 years and track coach for 22. After moving out of the high school coaching scene, he continued to work in both sports as a cross country and track coach at Pima Community College in Tucson for one year.

Not only has Smith moved from performing to coaching, he's also made the transition from sprints to long distance. Smith has participated in more than 65 marathons to date.

Assistant Coach Willie Lewis

A 1996 graduate of Albion, Willie Lewis is in his fifth year of coaching the men's and women's cross country teams.

Lewis also serves as an assistant to the Albion College women's track team. 

In addition to his work at the college, Lewis teaches in the Albion Public School system.

Updated December 02, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information