Northern Arizona Athletics and head women’s soccer coach, Alan Berrios, are pleased to announce the hiring of Dustin Smith to NAU soccer’s staff as Associate Head Coach on Feb. 7, 2024.

“We are excited to welcome Dustin to the Lumberjack family. He brings a ton of experience and a wealth of knowledge to our program. Dustin is a proven coach who has enjoyed success at multiple levels within the women’s game,” Berrios said. “I have known Dustin for many years, and I am confident he will be successful with Chris and I here at NAU. Dustin has a passion for the women’s game, and he has the ability to adjust to the modern day athlete.”

Smith spent four years (3 seasons due to COVID) compiling a 47-10-5 record, 3 straight NCAA appearances (Elite 8, Sweet 16), 2 Regular season conference championships and numerous All-Americans both scholastically and athletically at the University of West Florida. He joined the program as an assistant coach in February 2020 before being promoted to assistant head coach following the 2021 campaign. Smith joined UWF with 12 years of experience and five as a head coach.

Smith returned to his home state from fellow Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State. As part of the National Coaching Staff of the Year with the Lakers in 2019, he helped them to a 25-1 record and the 2019 NCAA National Championship along with the National Player of the year and numerous All-Americans. 

Prior to his time in Michigan, the Melbourne, Florida native spent nine seasons at Florida Tech, including the final four as head coach. He led the Panthers to a 30-19-5 overall record and the first Sunshine State Conference title in school history in 2017. FT would climb as high as No. 8 in the nation as they earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. As an assistant coach at FT from 2010-14, Smith aided in guiding the Panthers to three NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the Final Four in 2010.

"I wish to thank Coach Berrios, the rest of the coaching staff and the athletic administration for trusting in my abilities to help bring my unique experiences to Flagstaff," Smith said. "I feel humbled and excited to contribute to an already successful culture that has been created and look forward to becoming a Lumberjack.”

Smith started his coaching career as an assistant at Division I Coastal Carolina, helping the Chanticleers to consecutive Big South Conference Regular Season Championships in 1999 and 2000.

Smith was a four-year starter at Charleston Southern from 1994-97. He earned a pair of All-Conference honors and captained the 1997 squad to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from CSU in 1999. Following his collegiate career, Smith played two seasons with the USL's Myrtle Beach Sea Dawgs from 1998-99.

He has also been a successful club head coach working with FC America and Space Coast United where he was successful in making the Final Four with his team in 2014.

He was later hired as an ECNL Coach at Orlando City. In four years at Orlando City he helped guide his teams to the ECNL Champions League playoffs in Seattle, Washington. He also was a coach with the FC Prime - Brevard ECNL program and most recently, Midwest United DA out of Grand Rapids, Michigan which won the 2019 U19 National Championship.