Originally streamed live on February 23, 2026, this episode of Airey Bros Radio features one of the most respected distance coaches in college athletics — Oklahoma State Director of Track & Field / Cross Country, Coach Dave Smith. Fresh off another national championship season, Coach Smith joins us to break down what it takes to keep Oklahoma State Cross Country and Track & Field among the elite year after year. From his journey out of the Pacific Northwest and a PhD in neurobiology to becoming one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA history, this conversation dives deep into coaching philosophy, recruiting, culture, leadership, and the realities of running a top-tier Division I program. We get into Oklahoma State’s latest NCAA Cross Country title, the balance between the science and art of coaching, recruiting in the era of the transfer portal, NIL, and international talent, and what the day-to-day role really looks like as a D1 director and head coach. Coach Smith also shares thoughts on training trends like double threshold, why restraint matters in athlete development, and the indoor momentum building in Stillwater heading into championship season. If you're a runner, coach, recruit, parent, or fan of college cross country, NCAA track & field, Oklahoma State, Big 12 competition, and distance running culture, this is a must-listen episode.Topics covered include:Oklahoma State’s championship standard Dave Smith’s coaching origin story Recruiting international and domestic talent in 2026 NIL, transfer portal, roster fit, and culture building Training philosophy and long-term athlete development Indoor track outlook and Oklahoma State women’s DMR momentum Leadership lessons from winning, failure, and staying elite Follow Airey Bros Radio on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for more interviews spotlighting college wrestling, cross country, and track & field programs across the country. Show Notes / Timestamps ABR 441 – Coach Dave Smith | Oklahoma State Track & Field / Cross Country 0:00 Intro banter 2:17 Open and introduction for Oklahoma State Director of Track & Field / Cross Country Coach Dave Smith 3:09 Dave Smith’s 2025 national title, National Coach of the Year honors, and OSU’s indoor momentum 4:54 Where recruits and listeners can find Coach Smith and Oklahoma State online 5:21 Through lines: Chris Bean, Texas Tech roots, and the small world of coaching 6:17 The Iron Monk commemorative championship beer story and OSU athletics culture 8:24 Stillwater icebreaker: Eskimo Joe’s, Hideaway Pizza, and life around town 8:56 Coach Smith on eating mostly plant-based, cholesterol, and dietary changes 10:10 Dave Smith’s running origin story: woods, fear, accidental aerobic development, and discovering talent 12:06 Quitting football, finding cross country, and how team culture shaped his love for the sport 13:45 From neurobiology PhD to coaching: when he realized science was not his true passion 15:14 The seven-page letter that changed everything and how volunteering at Washington opened the coaching door 16:17 Texas Tech, Lee Daniel, and the year that made him realize coaching was his calling 18:39 Doing the right things for the wrong reasons — and how he helps athletes find their real passion 19:02 Dave Smith’s advice on majors, careers, passion, fulfillment, and long-term success 21:17 Early coaching lessons, Lee Daniel’s breakout, and learning the importance of restraint in training 23:47 The art vs. science of coaching and how Smith communicates training more effectively today 25:44 Reflecting on Oklahoma State’s 2025 NCAA Cross Country national title 26:15 Redemption after 2024 and why doing less can sometimes lead to more 27:40 How veteran coaches can still get humbled by lessons they thought they had already learned 28:59 The viral international athlete press conference clip and what Coach Smith wishes he said differently 31:21 Why coaches should avoid publicly criticizing other programs 33:32 Double-threshold training, current trends, and why OSU sticks to what it believes in 35:01 International recruiting, roster age, culture fit, and what really matters in building a team 38:56 What the CEO side of being Director of Track & Field / Cross Country actually looks like 40:14 Delegation, staff trust, and empowering event coaches inside a major D1 program 41:22 Balancing family life, fatherhood, and coaching at an elite level 42:27 Ryan Godfrey, John Oliver, Abby Frederick, and the staff that helps keep OSU rolling 44:33 How involved Coach Smith still is in the training side and why that remains his favorite part 45:43 The state of Oklahoma State when he arrived in 2002 and how the program was rebuilt 47:54 Mike Holder’s impact, administrative support, and building a championship infrastructure 49:02 Lessons learned from a golf coach: risk-taking, racing to win, and competitive mindset 50:37 Life as “the other Coach Smith” on Oklahoma State’s campus 52:47 Oklahoma State indoor track outlook, standout women, and the energy of the freshman class 55:14 Men’s rebuilding phase, injury setbacks, and optimism for the future 56:07 The DMR DQ, Boston follow-up, and the emotional rollercoaster of chasing a qualifier 59:16 Beating your friends, rivalries, and who Dave Smith most enjoys competing against 1:00:10 Oregon, Jerry Schumacher, and the programs coming hard in the national picture 1:01:48 Final Four begins: coffee habits, Spindrift favorites, and Stillwater coffee shops 1:03:47 Daily rituals, extreme step-count competitions, and the competitive streak behind the scenes 1:07:48 Podcasts, true crime, mindset, and what Dave Smith listens to off the track 1:09:22 Music taste, practice playlists, baking, and singer-songwriter favorites 1:10:46 Guilty pleasure: the legendary Palo Alto French toast story 1:14:49 Closing thoughts, appreciation, and final sendoff for Coach Dave Smith 1:15:23 Outro and preview of the next Airey Bros Radio live episode
