Wildcat Boys Cross County Head Coach Robert Smith recognized
10/2/2011

The idea behind the meet is to honor one boys and one girls Michigan Coaching legend. Photographs of the winning coach are placed on medals and trophies for the meet.

Smith noted he was humbled by the experience and attention.

Below is the text of his biography as read at the meet. You can also read more about Coach Smith here.

Please welcome Novi High School Men’s Cross Country Head Coach, Robert Smith. Coach Smith is currently in his 30th year with the Wildcats.

What happens to NCAA National Qualifiers in the 440 yard dash…yes the 440, not 400 ----????

It is great for all, that Coach Robert Smith “went distance” as he became a huge asset to the Novi Cross Country program as well as for the sport of Cross Country here in Southeastern Michigan and nationally.

His Novi program has produced 90 All-Conference runners and 82 State qualifiers over the years!

Please note that Novi has been represented at the state finals, either by an individual or a team, every year for 15 continuous years.

For nine straight years Coach Smith’s team has finished in the top 10 at the State meet….and this includes two State Championships in 1998 and 1999 and two State Runners-up finishes in 2000 and 2006.

The 1998 Cross Country team produced the first ever state championship at Novi.

On the national and international scene, Coach Smith coached Tim Moore who placed 8th at the Footlocker Nationals in 2000, and was the Footlocker National Champion in 2001!! Tim Moore was also the USATF Junior National Champion in 2001, and a USATF Representative in Dublin, Ireland in the 2001 World Championships.

Please also note another very important point of Coach Smith’s career. In 2006 the Novi High School Men’s Cross Country Team was crowned the Academic State Champion with a team GPA of 3.971

His many Coach of the Year honors include Kensington Valley Conference twice, Oakland County Coach of the Year 4 times, and MITCA Coach of the year 3 times!

In 2000 Coach Smith was awarded the Coach of the Week by ESPN. In 2001 the Detroit News and Free Press and the Michigan High School Coaches Association named him coach of the year. During this time he was a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the year.

Since 1996, the Novi High School Men’s Cross Country team has produced the most athletes who have broken 16 minutes at the MIS State Meet. 17 harriers have achieved this milestone.

The Novi Wildcats are also Number One in the State of Michigan with the number of athletes who have earned All-State honors at the MIS State Meet with 22.

In 2005, Coach Smith was inducted into both the South Lyon Hall of Fame and the Alma College Hall of Fame.

He has served on the MITCA Cross Country and Track & Field sub-committees.

Coach Smith has sat on the site selection committee for the MHSAA and he has been a registered official with the MHSAA for over 30 years.

Coach, a lot has happened since you ran the 440. Thank you for going the distance in your coaching career. Please congratulate Coaching legend, Novi’s Robert Smith!