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Smith named OCC athletic director

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Kevin Smith, who has coached the Orange Coast College men’s and women’s soccer programs to success in recent years, has been named Pirates Athletic Director, the school announced.

Smith, who will continue his soccer coaching duties, will begin his duties as athletic director on July 1.

“I’m excited to have Kevin come aboard as our new athletic director,” said Michael Sutliff, who as dean of kinesiology and athletics had been serving as the program’s top administrator. “Every time I met with Kevin, he talked about really wanting to help our department grow and continue to go in the right direction. The support of the coaches as well as the other members of our department is a top priority for Kevin and he knows as a current coach how important having someone in that capacity is.”

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Smith, who also had coached softball the last three seasons, will vacate that position to help concentrate on his administrative duties.

“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to help this athletic department continue to be a positive example to not only the other departments on campus, but to other athletic departments at the California Community College level,” Smith, who played collegiate soccer at UC Irvine, said. “This school has such a rich tradition of athletic and academic success, I’m really looking forward to working with the other coaches and helping all of our sports be the best they can possibly be.”

After spending several years as an assistant coach with men’s and women’s soccer programs, Smith became the women’s head coach in 2006. Over the last nine seasons, Smith has guided the Pirates to a 90-55-22 record with five playoff appearances and two trips to the state quarterfinals.

In 2010, Smith was named the men’s head coach following the retirement of longtime head coach Laird Hayes. In three seasons, he has helped Coast to a 36-17-9 record, a pair of playoff appearances and the Orange Empire Conference title in 2013.

Smith was the Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year in men’s soccer last fall.

Prior to his arrival at Coast, Smith was a teacher and head boys’ soccer coach at Cypress High.

From 1989 to 1997, Smith worked at Fountain Valley High as a resident substitute teacher and was the director of coaching for the boys’ soccer program from 1991-97. While at Fountain Valley, Smith guided the Barons to a pair of CIF Southern Section division final appearances.

Smith was an All-CIF performer at Edison High, before earning all-conference honors all four seasons at UCI. He left UCI as the school’s all-time scoring leader with 68 points, which now ranks fourth on the Anteaters’ all-time list. His 24 career assists rank second in UCI annals.

He played professionally for the Los Angeles Salsa of the U.S. Interregional Soccer League (1995), the Bournmouth Football Club of the Jewson Wessex League in England (1994) and the East L.A. Cobras of the USISL (1993).

Smith has also had coaching stints with the Olympic Development Program (1992-1993), UC Irvine (1993), the Mission Viejo Pateadores Soccer Club (1990-1995) and the Wolfpack Soccer Club (1996-2006).

Smith, his wife Alyson, his daughter Brynn and son Keegan, reside in Huntington Beach.

— From staff reports

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