Chad Smith is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Lindenwood men’s wrestling team in 2015-16. He previously served as an assistant coach for the program and was an All-American wrestler at the school.
Smith was a key member of Lindenwood’s NAIA success in the 2000s, which includes winning five NAIA National Championships and two runner-up finishes from 2002 to 2009. He was a part of four of those championship teams, including being a member of the first championship squad in 2002. Smith is now the leader after Lindenwood transitioned from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II level.
Last season, Smith’s squad made program history by winning its first MIAA Dual Meet Championship. The Lions went a perfect 5-0 during the MIAA regular season, including a 33-6 win over No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney that clinched at least a share of the title. Lindenwood also finished second at the MIAA Tournament. Smith earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors, nine wrestlers earned all-conference honors, and six advance to the final round of the MIAA Tournament.
Lindenwood finished fourth at the NCAA Super Regional, and 13th at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Four wrestlers earned bids to nationals, and three earned All-American honors. Terrel Wilbourn led the program by becoming the first Lion to advance to a NCAA championship match.
Off the mat, fourteen wrestlers were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, and one was a MIAA Scholar-Athlete.
In 2013-14, Smith was named the MIAA Coach of the Year and he led Lindenwood to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Seven wrestlers advanced to nationals and five earned All-American honors. Lindenwood collected 48.5 points and finished seventh overall.
The Lions finished second overall at both the NCAA Division II Super Regional and MIAA Championships. At regionals, Steven Butler won an individual championship at the heavyweight class. At the conference meet, Marco Tamayo, John McArdle, and Butler all won individual titles, and a total of seven wrestlers won all-conference accolades. Academically, eight players were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
In 2012-13, Lindenwood competed for the first time as a member of the MIAA, one of the toughest NCAA Division II conferences in wrestling. The Lions finished fifth at the conference meet, led by a third-place finish by Matt Greene. Lindenwood also competed at the NCWA level for the final time, winning the NCWA National Duals and the NCWA Conference Championship, and finishing fourth at the NCWA National Championships. Two Lions won a NCWA individual title at nationals and six others placed at the competition. Academically, nine Lindenwood wrestlers were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
In 2011-12, Smith led the program through its transition season from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II level. Lindenwood finished second at the NCWA National Duals, the MIAA Duals, and was fourth at the NCWA National Championships. Five wrestlers earned NCWA All-American honors, and Clayton Macfarlane won the national championship at 165 pounds.
In his first season as head coach, Smith led the Lions to a second-place showing at the NAIA National Championships. Nine wrestlers earned NAIA All-American honors and Chris Chionuma won a national title at 174 pounds. Lindenwood also finished second at the NWCA/NAIA National Duals and at the NAIA East Qualifier.
Smith started his Lindenwood on the mats as he earned All-American honors as a member of Lindenwood’s 2002 national championship squad and then captured an individual national title in 2003. Smith was a NAIA Scholar-Athlete and the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year for Lindenwood.
After his playing days at Lindenwood, Smith stayed a part of the program as a graduate assistant coach. He won another national championship as part of the 2005 national championship team.
Smith went away from St. Charles for one year, coaching at Broadway High School in Broadway, Va. in 2006-07. He came back to Lindenwood the next season was a full-time assistant for the next three seasons. Smith won two more rings as a member of the coaching staff of the 2008 and 2009 title teams.
Prior to coming to Lindenwood, Smith was a two-time state champion and three-time state finalist at Oakville High School in St. Louis. He then went to St. Louis CC-Meramec, where he was a NJCAA All-American.
Smith graduated from Lindenwood in 2003 with a major in secondary education/PE health, and he received his masters in 2006 in education administration.
