Lindenwood University Athletics

Brian Smith Accolades

• NCAA Division II Champion (2021)
• One-time IWLCA Assistant Coach of the Year (2018)
• Eight-time conference champion in the RMAC and GLVC
• Three conference titles in the RMAC and GLVC
• Career coaching record of 209-48
• Coached 22 All-Americans

Brian Smith will begin his 18th year as a member of the Lindenwood women's lacrosse coaching staff in 2026, including his 15th since the team moved from the club to the NCAA level. Smith is actively involved in all aspects of the program and serves as the team’s offensive coordinator.

In 2025, Lindenwood posted its second-consecutive 10 win season, going 10-6. The Lions made the ASUN Conference Tournament for the third-straight year, and advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year. The Black and Gold boasted the No. 2 scoring offense in the ASUN at nearly 14 goals per game.

The attack was led by a trio of 40+ goal scorers in Luci Selander, Reese Krieger, and Alissa DiGiacinto. Selander and Krieger were First Team All-Conference selections. Additionally, Selander was named the ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year. In total, five student-athletes earned All-Conference honors and four individuals were named to the All-Academic Team after compiling the programs second-highest team GPA at 3.77.

Lindenwood finished the 2024 season with a 13-5 overall record, the most wins in the NCAA Division I era. The Lions beat six teams in 2024 that the program lost to in 2023. The Black and Gold qualified for the ASUN Conference Tournament for the second consecutive season, earning the #3 seed, the highest seeding in program history. The team advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time in the NCAA Division I era. The Lions were a difficult team to beat at home, going 7-1 inside Hunter Stadium, including a signature win over the University of Louisville. The Lions paced the ASUN in scoring offense, averaging 14.97 goals per game which ranked 16th in the nation. Six individuals received all-conference recognition including Logann Eldredge who landed on the first team. The Utah native finished the year with 90 points, including 65 goals. Other players to receive all-conference nods included Kym Ardrey (second team), Kelsey Long (second team), Kiley Davis (second team), Alissa Digiacinto (all freshman), and Reese Krieger (all freshman). In the classroom the Lions set all-time academic records with a 3.78 Team GPA in the Fall, a 3.68 Team GPA in the Spring for a 3.73 cumulative Team GPA for the 2023-2024 academic year. This is the highest cumulative Team GPA is program history.

Under the direction of Smith, the Lindenwood women's lacrosse team finished its inaugural NCAA Division I season with a record of 8-10, including three wins in conference play. During the year, the Lions erased a pair of large deficits to defeat Central Michigan and Stetson, respectively. Logann Eldredge had an outstanding season, leading the ASUN in goals, while ranking 10th in the country overall with 68. She was one of three Lindenwood players to earn all-conference honors, joined by Lexy Biller who was a second-team selection and Elizabeth Goth who landed on the all-freshman team.

In 2022, the Lindenwood women's lacrosse team finished the 2022 with a 15-5 record, including its eighth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Smith had a hand in many individual awards won for another season in a row, including Eleanor Kast being named the IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year following the conclusion of the season, adding to her All-America First Team distinction. Bridget Considine also garnered IWLCA All-American honors, and four other Lions (Emma Arnold, Logann Eldredge, Alyssa Kneedler, and Kate MacDonell) were named to IWLCA All-Region teams. Smith also pushed nine Lions to All-GLVC recognition this past spring, including Considine, Eldredge, Emma Arnold, and Alyssa Kneedler on the first team; Kast, Long, Kym Ardrey, and Paige Sutton on the second squad; and Kate McDonnell for honorable mention.

In 2021, Smith was a key part of Lindenwood's first NCAA National Championship in program history. The Lions ended the year ranked No. 1 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll for the first time ever, and Smith played a large role in the development of this successful group. Along with the National Championship, Lindenwood toted yet another GLVC Conference Championship and 28 individual postseason awards.  

In 2020, Smith helped guide the Lions to a 9-1 start prior to the canceling of the season due to COVID-19. The team was ranked as high as No. 3 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Poll.

In 2019, Lindenwood advanced to the NCAA postseason for the sixth consecutive season, and finished with an overall record of 16-3. Lindenwood began the season with 12 consecutive wins, and were ranked as high as No. 4 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Poll. The Lions advanced to the RMAC Tournament Championship game for the fifth consecutive season, ultimately falling to Regis in triple overtime. Lindenwood ranked 14th in the IWLCA Coaches Poll at the conclusion of the season.

Lindenwood boasted nine all-RMAC award winners, including three first-team selections. The Lions also claimed three IWLCA all-region performers and two IWLCA All-Americans. Morgan Reader was tabbed as a second-team All-American, while Carly Fedorowski earned third-team All-American honors.

In 2018, Smith was recognized as the IWLCA Assistant Coach of the Year. 

Lindenwood finished the 2018 campaign with a 19-1 record and advanced to the NCAA postseason for the fifth consecutive season. The Lions rattled off 19 straight wins to begin the season, and achieved the first number one ranking in the IWLCA Division II Coaches Poll in program history. The Lion offense averaged 17.80 goals per game, the fifth-highest scoring offense in NCAA Division II.

Lindenwood claimed 10 all-RMAC performers in 2018, including five first-team selections. Additionally, the Lions had seven players receive all-region recognition, and four earn All-American status. Sophie Buelow was tabbed as a first-team All-American, Allison Hurley was chosen as a second-team All-American, and Rachel Ortell and Morgan Reader were picked as third-team All-Americans.

In 2017, Lindenwood set a school record for wins with 21, which was the second-most in NCAA Division II history. Smith helped the program advance to the NCAA Division II semifinals for the fourth straight year, and it won its sixth straight RMAC Championship. The offense ranked eighth in NCAA Division II with nearly 16 goals a game.

Smith helped two players earned first-team All-American honors in Rachel Benzing and Sophie Buelow. Five offensive players also earned all-region honors and six earned all-RMAC honors. Benzing was the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Maria Johnson was the RMAC Freshman of the Year.

In 2016, Smith helped Lindenwood to a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Semifinals, and the team also won a RMAC Championship and RMAC Tournament Championship. The Lady Lions ranked 13th in the nation with 14.42 goals a game, and they had the sixth-best scoring margin in the nation.
 
Smith guided three Lady Lions to earning first-team All-American honors, including first-team accolades for Jordyn Constance. Constance was also the RMAC Midfielder of the Year, and six offensive players earned all-RMAC honors.

In 2015, Smith was the architect of the No. 1 scoring offense in NCAA Division II as the Lady Lions averaged 16.14 goals a game. Smith’s offense helped Lindenwood go 19-2 on the season, win both the RMAC Championship and RMAC Tournament Championship, and advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight season. The Lady Lions scored 14 goals, the most in the 2015 NCAA Division II Tournament, in a first-round win, which allowed the team to advance to the semifinals for the second time in program history.

Smith helped Melissa Menchella, Lindenwood’s all-time leading scorer, be named a first-team All-American, and midfielder Jordyn Constance was a third-team All-American. Sophie Buelow was the RMAC Midfielder of the Year, and six attacks and midfielders on Lindenwood’s roster earned all-RMAC honors.

In 2014, Smith was part of a program that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, and was the first program west of the Mississippi River to make the NCAA Division II Tournament field. The Lady Lions won their first-round game to advance to the semifinals, and became the first team in any sport at Lindenwood to advance to the final site of a NCAA Tournament. Lindenwood’s national run ended in the semifinals with an overtime loss.
 
Lindenwood finished the 2014 season with a 15-4 overall record and it won a third conference championship with a perfect 5-0 mark. Offensively, the team ranked 12th in the nation with nearly 15 goals a game. Two offensive players were named second-team All-Americans in attack Menchella and midfielder Melissa Smith. Menchella was also the RMAC Player of the Year, while Smith was the RMAC Midfielder of the Year. Joining Smith and Menchella on the RMAC First-Team was midfielder Erin Abbott. Three other midfielders and one other attack were named to the All-RMAC squads.

In 2013, Smith helped Lindenwood go 15-2 overall and it won its second straight conference championship with a 10-0 record. The Lady Lions also entered the NCAA Division II national rankings for the first time as a NCAA program. Smith led Lindenwood’s offense to being the number one scoring team in the nation with 18.2 goals a game. He helped attacker Shelby Polk earn second-team all-region honors, the first all-region player in Lindenwood history, and Polk was also named the WILA Offensive Player of the Year. Five other attackers and midfielders were also named to the all-conference lists.

In 2012, Smith played a big role in Lindenwood winning the WILA Championship with a perfect 8-0 record, and for the team finishing its first season against NCAA competition with a 15-2 mark. The Lady Lions were the highest scoring team in the WILA by averaging nearly 18 goals a game, and they would have been the highest scoring team in NCAA Division II if they were eligible for the national statistics. Smith helped coach Lexi Crusha to Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, and seven attackers and midfielders were named to one of the all-conference teams.

Prior to the 2012 season, Smith was awarded the Women's Commitment Award from the St. Louis Missouri Chapter of US Lacrosse.

In Smith’s offensive system, Lindenwood has had some of the most potent offenses in school history at the club level, including its highest scoring season (2009) and its highest goal per game average (2010). Under his guidance during those years, the offense produced two WCLA Attack Player of the Year awards, six All-Americans, and three All-Tournament members. From 2009-11, he and Cribbin posted a 56-18 record and winning percentage of .757.

During his playing career, Smith was a midfielder for the Mitchell College men’s team in New London, Conn. before transferring to Lindenwood. While at Mitchell, he served as team captain and was awarded first-team all-New England honors. As a member of Lindenwood’s inaugural team, Smith helped the Lions to two undefeated regular seasons (2003, 2005), two Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference titles (2003, 2005), and a trip to the MDIA National Tournament in 2005. He was named GRLC first-team All-Conference in 2003 and 2005, GRLC Championship Game MVP in 2003, and served as team captain in 2005. Smith was also awarded the Coaches Leadership award in 2005.

Smith continued his post-collegiate playing career playing for Brave Lacrosse, and in 2010 was awarded the Show-Me State Games Male Athlete of the Year.

Smith graduated from Lindenwood in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree in sports management