OKLAHOMA CITY - The Classen SAS @ Northeast athletic department announced the hiring of Braden Smith as the new boys cross-country head coach on Monday.
Smith joins Oklahoma City Public Schools as a mathematics teacher and head boys cross country coach for Classen SAS at Northeast, where he plans to continue mentoring the next generation of runners. Simultaneously, he remains an integral part of the coaching staff at SNU.
Braden's journey in the sport of running began in elementary school, where his passion for the sport ignited and set the stage for his future successes. His dedication and talent blossomed throughout middle and high school, culminating in an illustrious career at Bethany High School, where he graduated in 2015 as a six-time school record holder, a three-time state medalist, a six-time USATF youth outdoor national medalist, and a USATF Junior Olympic All-American medalist.
In the fall of 2015, Smith embarked on his collegiate career at Southern Nazarene University (SNU). Although his time as a collegiate athlete was cut short by injury in 2017, Smith's love for the sport never wavered. Transitioning into a student-assistant role for the distance program, he continued to contribute to the team's success while pursuing his education. After earning his Bachelor of Business Administration from SNU in the spring of 2019, Smith's coaching career officially began when he joined the SNU coaching staff that summer as an assistant cross country and distance coach.
Beginning his full-time career as an educator in the fall of 2020, his passion and ability to inspire and motivate others quickly earned him the roles of head cross country coach and head track coach at Mustang Central Middle School in just two short years. His impact only grew over the following two years as he transitioned to the high school level, serving as the head cross country and head distance track coach at Midwest City.
Throughout his journey as both an athlete and a coach, Smith has exemplified discipline, dedication, perseverance, and leadership, guiding individuals and teams toward success both on and off the track. His tireless commitment to the sport and his athletes continues to inspire a legacy of excellence in the world of running.
