Kermit Smith

Biography

The 2026 season marks the 10th season at App State for Head Coach Kermit Smith, who was named the 13th coach in program history when he was hired on July 14, 2016. Smith was named a recipient of the American Baseball Coaches Association's Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award in January 2026. Smith led the Mountaineers to 23 wins in 2025, while developing a talented squad that included three All-Sun Belt selections including the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. In 2024, Smith led the Mountaineers to their second consecutive 30-win season. In the 2023 season, Smith led the Mountaineers to 30 wins, the most since 2013. Smith has led the Mountaineers to Sun Belt tournament victories in four straight seasons. Before arriving in Boone, Smith went 244-134 in seven seasons at Lander from 2010-16 and 229-225-1 in eight seasons at Belmont Abbey from 2002-09. At Lander, he was the winningest coach in program history, taking the Bearcats to three NCAA tournaments over his final five years. Smith helped Lander set a program record with a 52-8 record in 2014, finishing with a No. 4 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball poll.