University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Mark Smith 1986 - Skiing, Soccer
A four-time All-American in skiing and a top player on the Catamounts men's soccer team, Mark Smith, a 1996 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, is certainly one of the top alpine skiers in UVM history.
A 1986 graduate and native Vermonter, Smith was All-East and All-American in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986. In 1981 and 1984, he was a member of the U.S. Ski Team.
As a senior, Smith was captain of the ski team and seventh at the NCAA Championships in the giant slalom and 26th in the slalom. As a junior, he was seventh again in the giant slalom at the NCAAs, and eighth in the slalom. In his sophomore year, he was 10th in the slalom and 37th in the GS. And as a freshman, he was fourth in the slalom and 10th in the GS. His consistency in the alpine events did one thing - it produced points. And points translate into top finishes for the Catamounts.
Indeed, all four years Smith competed, the Catamounts finished second at the NCAA Championships. Also a member of the Eastern Ski Team from 1981 to 1986, Smith was the Eastern Cup Slalom champion for five consecutive years, from 1982 to 1986. He was also the Eastern Cup overall champion in 1986, as well as the Giant Slalom champion that year.
In soccer, Smith was a solid player. As a senior in 1986 he was a tri-captain of the team, was named Most Valuable Player and won the Hal Greig Award for his work ethic and dedication. That year he was the team's leading scorer with five goals and one assist as UVM went 10-6-2. A three-time letterwinner in soccer, Smith played his last two years under former head coach Ron McEachen.
After graduating from UVM, Smith stayed active in skiing. He coached the US Ski Team and the Men's World Cup team in 1990, and was the Eastern Region U.S. Ski Team Development Coach in 1989. He wrapped up his coaching career as the head alpine coach at Middlebury College for several seasons.
