GREENSBORO, N.C. – App State Baseball head coach
Kermit Smith has been named a recipient of the American Baseball Coaches Association's Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.
The honor is presented to individuals who embody the association's Code of Ethics. The ABCA believes that the highest calling of a baseball coach is to teach life's lessons and model the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect and personal responsibility.
"
Kermit Smith epitomizes what a leader of young people should look like," App State Director of Athletics
Doug Gillin said. "He is dedicated to the holistic development of student-athletes — academically, socially and competitively. Every day, he gives his all for Appalachian State University. A man of exemplary character, we are honored for him to represent App State as the recipient of such a prestigious award."
Smith will be honored in January at the 2026 ABCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The award was named in honor of Dave Keilitz in 2017. A former Central Michigan head coach and athletics director, Keilitz is a member of the ABCA Hall of Fame and the ABCA Board of Directors. He served as the ABCA's Executive Director from 1994-2014.
"I am very humbled with this incredible honor," Smith said. "I have matured in this industry and admired coaches like Dave Keilitz, Keith Madison, Rusty Stroupe, and others who strive to develop the whole student-athlete. For my name to be mentioned among them is surreal.
"Thank you to the individuals that nominated and supported me in the selection process. This is a great representation of so many people that have impacted me over two and a half decades, spanning three institutions, countless administrators, players, and assistants."
Across his nine seasons in Boone, Smith has become widely admired for the family atmosphere he has created around the App State Baseball program and the way in which he has immersed himself in the High Country community.
On the field, Smith led the Mountaineers to back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, marking the first time since 2012-2013 that an App State team accomplished that feat.
"
Kermit Smith is a phenomenal coach, but more importantly, he's a phenomenal man," App State Baseball alum Luke Drumheller said. "He values integrity, honesty, hard work and family. From the time I stepped on campus, I knew that he would be someone I looked up to."
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Smith worked with team leaders to organize multiple clean-up and rebuilding efforts. He went on to partner with UNC Asheville to play a fall contest in which all game revenue was donated directly to each school's hurricane relief fund.
Smith also has been honored by the App State Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which presented him with the Influence Award in April of 2024.
"In the preamble of the ABCA code of ethics, it speaks of being caretakers of our game, our families, our communities and our nation," Smith said. "No one holds a higher responsibility to emulate what this looks like than the coach. Reverend Billy Graham once said, 'A coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person does in a lifetime.' This has been something that has impacted the way I speak, act and treat others throughout my 25 years in this profession. Rebecca and I have always looked at this as our mission field. Without the support of Rebecca, Maddox, Beckett and Georgia Grace, I would not be able to lead authentically.
"I am fortunate to work at a university that allows me to lead the way that I do. Chancellor Norris,
Doug Gillin and
Jonathan Reeder share in the vision to develop the entire student-athlete, not solely the athlete."
Since arriving in Boone in 2016, Smith has coached 11 All-Sun Belt players, including Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
Banks Tolley in 2024, and two Freshmen of the Year, including
Austin St. Laurent, who was later selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round of the 2024 draft. Smith has also developed an All-American, four Freshman All-Americans, two all-region players and eight Major League Baseball draft picks.
A native of Arcadia, Fla., Smith played his college ball at Pfeiffer before going on to serve as the head coach of Belmont Abbey (2001-2009) and Lander (2009-2016), leading his teams to three combined appearances in the Division II College World Series. Smith was inducted into the Lander Athletics Hall of Fame in December 2021.
