HEAD COACH CHRIS SMITH

Chris Smith is in his 25th season as Grove City College’s head football coach.

A 1972 Grove City College graduate, Smith is the dean of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference football coaches. He is also the winningest coach in the 113-year history of Grove City football.

Numerous Grove City players have earned national and regional acclaim during his tenure. In 2005, safety Aaron Margo earned First Team All-America from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and represented the U.S. in the Aztec Bowl.

In 2007, center Matt Gregg became Grove City's third Aztec Bowl participant in this decade.

Meanwhile, linebacker Garret Choby, fullback Matt Weil, defensive end Richard Welch and defensive tackle Jordan Johnston all earned Academic All-District recognition in each of the last two seasons.

Under Smith’s direction, the Wolverine program ascended into the national picture with consecutive PAC championships in 1997 and 1998. Grove City also recorded runner-up finishes in both 1999 and 2000. During that time, Smith guided an offensive juggernaut that featured record-setting fullback R.J. Bowers, who rushed for 7,353 yards, the highest total in the history of college football.

In 1997, Smith led the Wolverines to their first-ever conference championship and first nine-win season in program history. Grove City capped the season by hosting the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the ECAC Southwest Bowl.

For his efforts that season, the American Football Coaches Association, the Metropolitan New York Writers Association and the PAC all honored Smith as their Coach of the Year.

In 1995, Smith earned the Tri-State Officials Association’s Coach of the Year award.
Overall, Smith has coached seven players who have attained All-American status as well as countless others who have earned ECAC and PAC recognition through the years.

The Wolverines’ on-field success has been matched by success in the classroom. Over the past two decades, numerous Grove City players have received recognition both regionally and nationally for their academic performances.

Grove City’s four CoSIDA/ESPN The Magainze Academic All-District selections in 2005 set a new program record. Grove City also produced four Academic All-District selections last season. In 2003, defensive back Dan Roseum achieved Academic All-District while linebacker Jonathan Forbes earned similar recognition in 2001.

A highly-respected member of the coaching community, Smith is actively involved on the American Football Coaches Association Division III Football Council. He is also a member of the NCAA Division III Football Committee, which supervises the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Smith ascended to the head coaching position at Grove City in 1984 after spending five years as an assistant at the College. Prior to joining the Grove City football staff in 1979, Smith coached the outside linebackers at Western Kentucky University under head coach Jimmy Feix. Smith’s coaching career began at Perry High School in his hometown of Massillon, Ohio.

From 1996-2003, Smith also held the role of Director of Athletics at Grove City, overseeing the College’s 19-sport program.

As a player, Smith was a four-year starter at safety for the Wolverines from 1968-71. He led the team in interceptions three times and holds Grove City’s career record for interceptions with 22. In Smith’s four-year tenure in the secondary, the Wolverines compiled a 17-15-3 (.529) record.

Over his 32 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach at Grove City, Smith has been involved in 300 games. He was head coach for the program’s 800th and 900th all-time games and was an assistant for the 700th game in 1979.

He and his wife, Barbara, live in Grove City. Their daughter Ellie is a 2003 Grove City College graduate.  

Go back to Wolverine Football Home Page