Drake University Director of Athletics
Brian Hardin announced the elevation of
Steve Smith to head coach of the Drake women's golf program on May 24, 2022. Smith was appointed interim head coach on Feb. 18, 2022 with 33 years of coaching experience at his disposal.
"We are incredibly pleased to remove the interim tag from Steve's title," Hardin said. "Steve stepped into a challenging situation, as he moved into his role literally days before our first spring competition and proceeded to develop strong relationships with our team. Steve guided them to an excellent season this past spring and I am very excited to see the program he develops at Drake."
Under Smith's leadership in 2022, the Bulldogs recorded their best finish (third place) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships since 2010. Smith has also led the Bulldogs to back-to-back third place finishes at the MVC Championship for the 2023-24 and and 2024-25 seasons.
Smith coached
Kristen Giles to become just the second Bulldog women's golfer to win the MVC Championship and represented Drake and the MVC as an individual at the 2022 NCAA Division I Stillwater Regional. In the season's final tune-up prior to the MVC Championship, the Bulldogs tied for first at the Redbird Spring Invitational on April 9.
"I am extremely grateful to
Brian Hardin and
Megan Franklin, Ph.D. for the opportunity to continue coaching the Drake women's golf team," Smith said. "It was amazing to be a part of this team and the historic finish to the spring season. I am looking forward to the future and the success of the team."
Smith began as assistant golf professional at Hyperion Field Club in April of 2020. Prior to that, he was the head boys and girls golf coach as well as a teacher at Johnston High School from 1991-2020, earning District Coach of the Year honors on five occasions. In 2018, Smith was nominated for National Coach of the Year by the Iowa High School Golf Coach Association.
Smith's first coaching position was from 1987-1991 when he was the head girls golf coach at Norwalk High School. Smith was an all-conference golfer in 1985 and 1986 at Truman State University.
