We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Tom Smith [West '75], newly inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. As the current Parkway Alumni Association Board President, we celebrate his achievements.

Smith recently retired, leaving a legacy at Missouri Baptist University far beyond his time as the Spartans' Athletics Director. The Missouri Baptist College alum was employed at MoBap first as a housekeeper before transitioning to roles in Development, Head Men's Wrestling Coach (2000-03), and Director of Admissions (1997-2002). He has been a professor in Education and Health and Sport Sciences since 2000 and was named an Associate VP in August 2015.

Under Smith's direction, MBU has won four NAIA national championships in women's indoor track & field (2006), women's outdoor track & field (2006), and women's volleyball (2020-21, 2021), two NAIA national invitational titles in men's volleyball (2015, 2016), an NCA Advanced Small Coed Cheer championship, and numerous individual titles in wrestling and track & field. In addition, the Spartans have won 33 conference tournament championships and 23 regular-season titles with Smith in the AD seat.

He has been recognized twice by NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) as an Under Armour AD of the Year in 2012-13 and 2019-20, and four times as American Midwest Conference (AMC) AD of the Year (2004-05, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2018-19).

During his tenure, Dr. Smith has infused more than 400 additional student-athletes on campus by creating 18 new athletic programs at both the varsity and junior varsity levels. Today, Missouri Baptist is home to 28 varsity sports, 6 JV programs, and 750+ student-athletes each year.