GREENWOOD - Lander athletics director Jeff May announced today
that Kermit Smith, who recently led Belmont Abbey College to the
NCAA Division II College World Series semifinals, has been named
the Bearcats' head baseball coach effective immediately.
Smith’s Crusaders reached the World Series for the first time
in school history by sweeping through the NCAA Southeast Regional
at Roberto Hernandez Stadium at USC Aiken, going 4-0 against
Lander’s Peach Belt Conference rivals. Sixth-seeded Belmont
Abbey beat the top three seeds, including No. 1 seed USC Aiken
twice, and also Francis Marion University and Georgia College &
State University.
The Crusaders were the first lowest seeded team in NCAA Division II
history to win a regional and advance to the NCAA World Series.
They also achieved the highest national ranking in school history
at No. 15.
Belmont Abbey lost to Lynn University in the national semifinals,
7-5, on May 29. Lynn would win the national championship the next
day. Smith’s Crusaders finished the 2009 season with a 40-26
record, and won the Carolinas Conference regular-season title with
a 14-5 mark. They qualified for the Regionals by capturing their
first-ever Conference Carolinas Tournament title, winning five
games in a 48-hour period and having to beat Erskine twice for the
championship.
"Lander is fortunate to have recruited such a talented, proven head
baseball coach," Lander University President Dr. Daniel Ball said.
"He brings with him an established record of student-athlete
development that has been a hallmark of Lander University. We are
confident that Coach Smith will bring national distinction to our
baseball program."
In making the announcement, May added, "Coach Smith comes to us
highly recommended by a number of very good baseball people. He is
one of the bright young head coaches in the game and we could not
be more pleased that he has agreed to be our coach. The future is
bright for Bearcat baseball."
"I would first like to thank Belmont Abbey College, the Gaston
County community, my coaching staff, and my past and current
players for their contributions to the Belmont Abbey baseball
program," Smith said. "The last nine years have been instrumental
in developing me personally and professionally. I am looking
forward to the opportunities at Lander University.
"My brief experiences with Lander and the Greenwood community have
been incredibly positive, and have resulted in a sincere excitement
for both myself and my family. I want to thank Jeff May, Dr. Ball,
and the search committee for their professionalism and confidence
in my ability to lead this program forward. We are eager to be part
of the university as well as the Greenwood community."
Smith also served as Belmont Abbey’s hitting instructor and
catching coach. One of his prize pupils, sophomore first baseman
Daniel Kassouf, was just named to the American Baseball Coaches
Association’s all-region and All-America teams. Kassouf, one
of the top hitters at all levels of NCAA baseball, finished the
year with a .370 average and an NCAA Division II leading 29 home
runs, 23 doubles and 90 runs batted in. He was named first-team
All-Region and second-team All-American.
Smith spent eight years as Belmont Abbey’s head coach, and
nine overall with the program. During his time there, Smith worked
diligently to improve the team athletically and academically. In
2002, he became the youngest head coach in the nation at age 23.
That year the team went 35-20, won the conference regular season
championship, and just missed on a regional bid.
In 2008, Smith led the Crusaders to a memorable year, finishing the
season with a 41-22 record and a trip to the NCAA South Atlantic
Regional. Six Crusaders were named all-conference and sophomore
second baseman Alex Castellanos was drafted in the 10th round by
the St. Louis Cardinals. The 41 wins set a school record, and the
2008 senior class became the winningest class in school history.
The Crusaders also achieved the highest national ranking in the
school’s history until 2009, with a 26th national
ranking.
In 2007, the Crusaders finished second in the nation with 78 home
runs and third in the country in doubles with 141. Throughout the
course of Smith’s tenure, he has developed a reputation of
being one of the best hitting coaches around. Smith has guided four
hitters to All-American status, and 18 hitters and 26 players
overall to all-conference seasons, and eight who have been named
all-region.
Smith became the winningest coach in Belmont Abbey history on
February 4, 2008.
Smith served as the chair for the Conference Carolinas coaches. He
was also the chair for the Belmont Abbey coaches’ council.
Kermit was an active member of the community. He served as the head
coach for the Gaston Braves American Legion team from 2002-2007,
guiding them to a 99-62 record. He was also a regular as a speaker
at major functions in the surrounding area.
Smith graduated from Pfeiffer University and received his
master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania.
He is a native of Arcadia, Fla., where his parents George and Sue
Ellen still reside. Coach Smith is married to the former Rebecca
Hethcox and the couple welcomed their first child into the world
June 11, 2007, Maddox Kilpatrick Smith.
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