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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Errol Anderson
Connie Price-Smith Inducted into USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame
12/18/2024 | Cross Country, Track and Field
ORLANDO, Fla. – Ole Miss track & field and cross country head coach Connie Price-Smith was officially inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening.
Price-Smith was one of six newly enshrined members at a dinner last night in their honor as part of the USTFCCCA Convention at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando. Joining the Hall of Fame alongside Price-Smith were Dave Cianelli (Cal Poly/SMU/Virginia Tech), Frank Gramarosso (North Central [Ill.]), Ron Helmer (Georgetown/Indiana), Jud Logan (Ashland) and Ford Mastin (Oklahoma Baptist).
Price-Smith is the third Ole Miss coach to join the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, which began in 1995. Other Rebel coaches inducted include Weems Baskin (1938-43; special induction Class of 2001) and Ken Gibson (1985-88; Class of 2004). Price-Smith is the 14th woman inducted and one of two women to earn spots in both the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame as an athlete and the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame as a coach.
"I love the sport, I love what it afforded me, and I love being able to help young adults grow into older adults," Price-Smith told host Paul Swangard. "I love being around the sport and I love being around my staff. [Ole Miss] is a great place to work, I still really enjoy it."
Price-Smith is in her 10th season in charge of the Ole Miss program and her 24th overall as a collegiate head coach when adding in her prior 14 seasons at her alma mater, Southern Illinois. In total, Price-Smith has led her teams to 43 NCAA top-25 finishes, won 22 NCAA titles (28 total champions), coached 21 NCAA runners-up, mentored 244 First or Second-Team All-Americans, scored 609 points at the national meets, coached 282 total conference champions and won 14 total conference titles – including the first two in Ole Miss combined program history.
Success as a coach came naturally to Price-Smith after a brilliant 15-year professional career as the best American women's thrower of her era. During her decade-and-a-half career as a world-class thrower, Price-Smith was a 25-time U.S. champion in the shot put and discus and a member of 34 international U.S. squads. She participated in four Olympic Games – 2000 (Sydney), 1996 (Atlanta), 1992 (Barcelona) and 1988 (Seoul) – with a best finish of fifth in the shot put at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the best by an American woman since 1960.
Price-Smith is no stranger to coaching on the international stage, either. She was the head women's coach for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, as well as at the 2011 IAAF World Championships (Daegu, South Korea), the 2013 World University Games (Kazan, Russia) and the 2007 Pan American Games (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). She served as an assistant coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, as well as the 2004 World Junior Championships (Grosseto, Italy), the 2005 World Indoor Championships (Budapest, Hungary) and with the U.S. 2006 World Cup Team (Athens, Greece).
The story of Price-Smith is synonymous with her husband and professional coach, John Smith, who has served alongside her as throws coach both at Southern Illinois and Ole Miss.
"First I need to thank my family, but I need to thank John, my husband who I've been married to for 34 years," Price-Smith said. "He's been by my side as an athlete and as a coach. He's always there making sure I stay motivated and have the confidence to do the things that I do."
Price-Smith and the Rebels return to action in January, when the indoor season resumes for Ole Miss track & field Jan. 10-11 with trips to Kentucky's Rod McCravy Invitational and Vanderbilt's Commodore Challenge.
Price-Smith was one of six newly enshrined members at a dinner last night in their honor as part of the USTFCCCA Convention at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando. Joining the Hall of Fame alongside Price-Smith were Dave Cianelli (Cal Poly/SMU/Virginia Tech), Frank Gramarosso (North Central [Ill.]), Ron Helmer (Georgetown/Indiana), Jud Logan (Ashland) and Ford Mastin (Oklahoma Baptist).
Price-Smith is the third Ole Miss coach to join the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, which began in 1995. Other Rebel coaches inducted include Weems Baskin (1938-43; special induction Class of 2001) and Ken Gibson (1985-88; Class of 2004). Price-Smith is the 14th woman inducted and one of two women to earn spots in both the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame as an athlete and the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame as a coach.
"I love the sport, I love what it afforded me, and I love being able to help young adults grow into older adults," Price-Smith told host Paul Swangard. "I love being around the sport and I love being around my staff. [Ole Miss] is a great place to work, I still really enjoy it."
Price-Smith is in her 10th season in charge of the Ole Miss program and her 24th overall as a collegiate head coach when adding in her prior 14 seasons at her alma mater, Southern Illinois. In total, Price-Smith has led her teams to 43 NCAA top-25 finishes, won 22 NCAA titles (28 total champions), coached 21 NCAA runners-up, mentored 244 First or Second-Team All-Americans, scored 609 points at the national meets, coached 282 total conference champions and won 14 total conference titles – including the first two in Ole Miss combined program history.
Success as a coach came naturally to Price-Smith after a brilliant 15-year professional career as the best American women's thrower of her era. During her decade-and-a-half career as a world-class thrower, Price-Smith was a 25-time U.S. champion in the shot put and discus and a member of 34 international U.S. squads. She participated in four Olympic Games – 2000 (Sydney), 1996 (Atlanta), 1992 (Barcelona) and 1988 (Seoul) – with a best finish of fifth in the shot put at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the best by an American woman since 1960.
Price-Smith is no stranger to coaching on the international stage, either. She was the head women's coach for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, as well as at the 2011 IAAF World Championships (Daegu, South Korea), the 2013 World University Games (Kazan, Russia) and the 2007 Pan American Games (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). She served as an assistant coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, as well as the 2004 World Junior Championships (Grosseto, Italy), the 2005 World Indoor Championships (Budapest, Hungary) and with the U.S. 2006 World Cup Team (Athens, Greece).
The story of Price-Smith is synonymous with her husband and professional coach, John Smith, who has served alongside her as throws coach both at Southern Illinois and Ole Miss.
"First I need to thank my family, but I need to thank John, my husband who I've been married to for 34 years," Price-Smith said. "He's been by my side as an athlete and as a coach. He's always there making sure I stay motivated and have the confidence to do the things that I do."
Price-Smith and the Rebels return to action in January, when the indoor season resumes for Ole Miss track & field Jan. 10-11 with trips to Kentucky's Rod McCravy Invitational and Vanderbilt's Commodore Challenge.
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