Vince Smith enters his sixth season as the Head Men's Lacrosse Coach after serving as the programs top assistant coach during the 2013-2014 season. Smith, who served as the team’s Offensive Coordinator in the spring of 2014, brings a wealth of knowledge to the program with coaching stints at the professional, collegiate and high school level.
2018 was a banner season for Smith as he led the Mavericks to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and the Mavericks were the first team west of the Mississippi River to qualify for the tournament. They won their third straight regular season and tournament title as a part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mavericks had their first All-American in Jack Griffin.
Previous to the 2013-2014 season, Smith was the Head Boy's Lacrosse Coach and Athletic Director at Christchurch School, in Virginia. In his five seasons at Christchurch his program posted a 70-28 record, capturing two Virginia Independent School Athletic Association State Titles in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the first two Lacrosse Championships in Christchurch School history. During his five seasons at Christchurch, Smith was also named the VISAA State Coach of the Year twice, as well as the Prep-League Coach of the Year three times. A number of Smith's players received All-Prep and All-State honors, as well as four players being named US Lacrosse All-American's, including one US Academic All-American. Smith also coached football while at Christchurch, helping lead the team to the VISAA State Title in 2012, serving as the offensive coordinator.
Before arriving at Christchurch School Smith had coaching stints at the collegiate and professional levels. During the 2007-2008 season Smith worked in Champaign, IL at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as the team’s Defensive Coordinator. The team posted highs in take-aways, clearing percentage and a MCLA ranking of #15 during the season. During the winter of that season Smith was asked to join the coaching staff of the Major Lacrosse League's Chicago Machine for their 2008 summer season. Smith worked with both sides of the ball, assisted with game day preparations and ran the game-day box while assisting the Chicago Machine organization. The Chicago Machine finished 4th in the Western Conference that season.
Smith earned a bachelors degree in history from Hampden-Sydney College. Before attending Hampden-Sydney College, Smith played his freshman season at Division I lacrosse power, Johns Hopkins University, helping lead the Blue Jay team to the 2002 NCAA Semi-Finals before falling to Princeton University. While at Hampden-Sydney College, Smith tallied over 110 points, including 23 goals and 23 assists in his senior season. Smith was chosen as an All-ODAC selection twice, while also being chosen as an Honorable Mention All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association for his efforts in his senior season. Smith finished as the #9 All-Time points leader at the midfield position at Hampden-Sydney College. Once finishing his playing career, Smith served as a Volunteer Assistant at his alma mater during the 2007 season, helping the Tigers to post a 12-3 record.
Smith posted an illustrious high school career at St. Anne's Belfield School in Virginia, where he was named a high school US Lacrosse All-American in both his junior and senior lacrosse seasons. Smith finished his career as the leading point scorer in St. Anne's Belfield School history with over 350 career points. In 2000, while a junior in high school, Smith helped lead both the lacrosse and football programs to State Championships, as a running back on the gridiron and a midfielder in lacrosse. In 2010, Smith became the first person in the state of Virginia to capture a State Championship in the sport of lacrosse as both a head coach and player, doing so in 2000 as a player at St. Anne's Belfield School, and again in 2010 as the Head Coach of Christchurch School.
| Smith's Year-by-Year Coaching Record |
| Year |
Overall |
Conf. |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2020** |
7-0 |
2-0 |
- |
|
| 2019 |
10-8 |
4-2 |
2nd |
|
| 2018 |
17-3 |
8-0 |
1st* |
NCAA Quarterfinals |
| 2017 |
16-2 |
9-1 |
1st* |
|
| 2016 |
13-4 |
7-1 |
1st* |
|
| 2015 |
9-3 |
6-0 |
1st |
|
| TOTAL (5 Years) |
72-20 |
36-4 |
|
Four Conference Championships, 1 NCAA Postseason |
**Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic
