DES MOINES, Iowa – Asha Gibson-Smith has resigned as Drake University track & field head coach to pursue opportunities outside of athletics in her hometown of Birmingham, Ala., the Drake University Athletic Department announced Friday (June 3).
 
"I'd like to provide thanks to Brian Hardin, Stephanie Sledge and Blake Boldon for trusting me to lead in such a distinctive capacity while at Drake for the past three seasons," Gibson-Smith said. "The impact, memories and relationships are life-lasting. With my growth, I look forward to expanding my professional pedigree and skills closer to family."

Gibson-Smith arrived in Des Moines in October of 2019 and helped Bulldog track & field to instant success. Multiple records were broken under Gibson-Smith's guidance and Drake qualified seven athletes to the NCAA outdoor track & field West Preliminary in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022).

"I want to thank Asha for all that she has done for the Drake track & field program," Drake Director of Athletics Brian Hardin said. "Her hard work led to some of the best program performances in recent memory and I greatly appreciate her leadership over the past three years. We wish Asha the absolute best in her future endeavors."
 
Drake cross country head coach Jay Koloseus will serve the role of interim track & field head coach while a national search will be conducted to fill the role. Koloseus led Drake to a 2021 Missouri Valley Conference cross country title and has overseen the distance runners for the Drake track & field program since 2017.