Bio

Gene Smith was named head women's soccer coach in the summer of 2025.

Smith came to Mars Hill after serving as the head women’s soccer coach at Bluefield State during the 2024 season. Prior to joining Bluefield State, Smith was the Girl’s Director at Inter Connecticut FC from 2023-2024 where he drove the club’s acceptance into DPL, created a college recruiting program, and led strategic planning, budgeting, and operational oversight.

He began his coaching career as the head women’s soccer coach at California University of Pennsylvania from December 2010 to February 2014. He led the Vulcans to four NCAA Tournament appearances and two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. The team went 34-8-3 over that run.

Smith then headed the Davis & Elkins program for two seasons, being named the GMAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and leading the team to a regular season championship as well as NCAA Tournament appearance. While at Davis & Elkins, the team went 25-11-3 and raised their overall team GPA to 3.48, which ranked second highest in the athletic department.

After spending two seasons at Marist College from May 2016 to December 2017, he led Colby-Sawyer College to a 25-10-3 record from June 2018 to September 2020.

Smith served as USL W head coach/general manager and girl’s director of coaching at the MOBA Soccer Academy from 2019-2022, leading a national-level semi-professional team. During that time, he also served as assistant coach/men’s goalkeeper coach at Clayton State University.

Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Norwich University in 1999. He later obtained his master’s in sports leadership from Northeastern University in 2008 and an MBA in business administration from Cal U of PA in 2011.