Janice Smythe, a 2007 graduate of Morgan State University is entering her ninth season as an Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach with the Morgan State University men’s and women’s program. Smythe started her coaching career in 2007 after graduating from Morgan State and wrapping up a stellar collegiate season for the Bears. Ms. Smythe serves at the Director of Operations and handles all team travel and supervises the Athletic Grant-In-Aid (AGIA) budget for both programs. She also monitors student athletes academic progress, assist with the development of all hurdlers, sprinters/jumpers, quarter milers, relays, and assist with all phases of recruiting. Ms. Smythe also assists the sports information department with media coverage for the cross country and track & field programs.
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During Ms. Smythe tenure at Morgan State, the Bears programs have experienced tremendous success over the years. During the 2013 and 2014 Cross Country season, the lady bears team finished 2nd at the MEAC Cross Country Championships which was the highest finish ever in the history of the program. The Lady Bears 4x100m have also had back to back appearances at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in 2012 and 2013.
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Smythe is no stranger to Morgan State, as she brings first-hand experience to the program. Smythe competed for the Bears for three seasons and made and immediate impact. During her first season, the Lady Bears won the 2005 MEAC Outdoor Championships title.  During the 2006 season, Smythe made history as the only female athlete to make the finals of the 400m and 400m hurdles at the ECAC championships with two of the fastest times in school history. She was an also an NCAA National Qualifier in the 400m hurdles during the 2006 season and was later named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. Smythe was a three-time NCAA Regional Qualifier in the 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x100m and 4x400m. She was also a NCAA Regional Finalist in the 400m Hurdles, MEAC and ECAC finalist in the 400m, 200m and 400m hurdles. She earned several MEAC and ECAC honors and awards as a student-athlete and in 2007 she was named Morgan State’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for outdoor track. As a student-athlete she worked as a tutor for the Office of Resident Life (ORL) while maintaining a high level of competitiveness on the track.
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Smythe earned her B.S. in Accounting from Morgan State University in 2007 and later earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Project Management. She is a USATF Level II Certified Track & Field Coach and holds USTFCCCA Program Management certification. Â
