John Smith (2020) - Hall of Fame

Sacramento State

Hall of Fame

John Smith has served Sacramento State as a student-athlete, coach and administrator for over 40 years.
Smith began his life as a Hornet as a member of the baseball team for the 1971 and 1972 seasons. He was a graduate assistant in 1973 before leaving to coach Encina High School from 1974-78.
Smith returned to campus as the head baseball coach in 1979 and held the position until retiring following the 2010 season. Under his watch, Sacramento State qualified for two NCAA Div. II College World Series and he was twice named the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year.
He helped transition the team from NCAA Div. II to Div. I and played a large role in the creation of the stadium and field which bears his name.
He began serving as an assistant athletics director in 1999 and has overseen numerous special projects for the department. Among those projects are the annual Athletic Director's Golf Tournament as well as spearheading the efforts to bring back the Hall of Fame. Smith also served as the coordinator of athletics for the Sacramento City Unified School District following his retirement from coaching.

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