July 18, 2007

ABERDEEN, Wash. -

by Rick Anderson - Daily World sports editor

Rob Smith, a former Hoquiam High athletic standout who became the winningest football coach in Western Washington University history, is returning home as Grays Harbor College's athletic director.

Smith's appointment to succeed Rich Wold was announced Tuesday. Wold resigned after one year as GHC's men's basketball coach and athletic director. Ex-Choker assistant George Swanson was appointed as basketball coach earlier this month.

The 50-year-old Smith was chosen from a field of 30 applicants. The college recently made the athletic director's job a full-time position.

"We had many (candidates) who were very well-qualified, so it was a tough decision for our selection committee," said GHC spokeswoman Jane Goldberg.

"Being an athletic director has long been a goal," Smith said Tuesday. "Certainly, the opportunity to come home was exciting to us."

An all-state running back in football and state high hurdles champion in track (he was also a member of a state championship relay team) at Hoquiam prior to his 1975 graduation, Smith was a three-year letterman in football at the University of Washington and played in the Huskies' 1978 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan.

Smith spent 17 years as the head football coach at Western Washington University, resigning in 2005 after establishing school records for victories (109) and winning percentage (.643).

He guided the Vikings to five national playoff appearances and his 1996 team reached the NAIA Division II national championship game before losing to Findlay of Ohio.

Smith returned to Western last February as Director of Development for Athletic Fundraising.

Although Smith said he needs to familiarize himself with the GHC operation before publicly expressing any priorities, he firmly shot down any notion that he would seek to reinstate Choker football.

No Washington community college offers football due to financial considerations. Grays Harbor College dropped the sport in the mid-1970s.

"The days of community college football in the Northwest are gone and are never coming back," Smith asserted.

Nor does Smith intend to return to coaching in the forseeable future. He said he interviewed for a head-coaching opening at Colorado State-Pueblo following the 2006 season but withdrew his name from consideration prior to the selection process.

"(The interview) reinforced my decision that I wanted to move away from coaching and toward administration," he said.

While Smith never attended GHC, he does have family ties to the college.

His older brother, Dave, played basketball and baseball for the Chokers. His brother, Don, and late father, Alan, also attended GHC.

"Growing up in Hoquiam, I remember how well-supported the sports programs were and we hope to improve on how the support has been more recently," he said. "I think the college is a great asset to the community."

Smith and his wife, Wendy, have two children -- 12-year-old daughter Alison and 8-year-old son Jared. Alison Smith, who will be entering seventh grade, recently finished second in her age group in the 100 and 200 meters at the state Hershey's Track Meet.

The family is seeking a home in Hoquiam.