Whitney Smyre was appointed an assistant coach at App State in 2019. The 2011 App State graduate coaches all five throwing events for both the men’s and women’s programs.
During the 2025 season, Smyre coached Christopher Stewart to a personal best toss of 17.19m (56’ 4.75”) in the men’s shot put to place fifth at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. His mark elevated him to fourth on the App State all-time list. Stewart also led the Mountaineers in the discus, recording a season best mark of 47.62m (156’ 3”) at the App State Open. Smyre also guided Jake Stewart, who led the Black and Gold in the hammer throw and javelin through the outdoor season. On the women’s side, Smyre guided Brittany Ellis, Dianna Boykin, Emily Edwards, and Abigail Goetz, who led the team in the shot put, discus, hammer throw, and javelin, respectively.
In 2024, Smyre coached Chris Wainscott to his second consecutive appearance in the men’s shot put at the NCAA East First Round, having qualified in the men’s shot put in 2023. Wainscott finished his career at App State ranked second all-time in the shot put, fourth all-time in the discus, and fifth all-time in the hammer throw. In the women’s weight throw, Daiyanna Cooper matched LaShanna Poole’s 2003 mark of 17.70m (58’ 1”) to rank eighth on the program all-time list at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships.
During the 2023 season, Wainscott rose to second all-time with a toss of 17.95m (58’ 10.75”) in the men’s shot put. Additionally, Wainscott rose to fourth all-time in the men’s discus with a toss of 51.26m (168’ 2”). Nathan Karl also cemented himself in the record book, where he ranks sixth in the men’s discus (50.79m (166’ 8”)) and eighth in the men’s shot put (17.01m (55’ 9.75”)). On the women’s side, Graysen Arnold recorded a toss of 18.00m (59’ 0.75”) to rise to sixth in the women’s weight throw on the App State all-time list. During the outdoor season Cooper rose to second all-time with a toss of 56.86m (186’ 6”) in the women’s hammer throw and posted a mark of 13.61m (44’ 8”) to move to ninth in the women’s shot put on the all-time list.
The 2022 season saw Karl lead the men in the men’s shot put with a mark of 16.19m (53’ 1.5”), which earned him a seventh-place finish to score at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships. He also led the Mountaineers in the men’s discus with a toss of 50.24m (164’ 10”). Under Smyre’s direction, Zachary Weinstein led the Black and Gold in the men’s hammer throw with a season best toss of 56.13m (184’ 2”) at the Georgia Tech Invitational, where he finished fourth overall. Cooper led the Mountaineers in the women’s shot put and women’s hammer throw, with marks of 12.44m (40’ 9.75”) and 50.60m (166’ 0”), respectively. Smyre also guided Megan Plummer to a season best toss of 38.07m (124’ 11”) in the women’s discus.
The 2021 outdoor season saw Smyre coach Karl to all-conference honors in the shot put. In addition, Chrysitan Smith and Karl both scored points for App State in the discus at the conference meet.
In her first two seasons, Smyre has coached one all-conference honoree and seen her athletes post four top-10 outdoor marks (two male, two female) and one top-10 indoor mark.
Smyre returned to App State after serving eight seasons in the Division II South Atlantic Conference. Spending six seasons at Wingate University (2011-2017), and her last two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne University (2017-2019).
During her time in the SAC Smyre coached:
- 3 - SAC Team Champions (Wingate University Men 2014, Wingate University Women 2017, and Lenoir-Rhyne University Women 2019)
- 5 - Division II NCAA National Provisional Qualifiers (Jesse Lavelle: Hammer-2014, Hannah Hinson: Weight Throw-2016, Myles Braswell: Indoor Shot Put-2017, Haylea Salamon: Discus-2017, Autumn Drayton: Discus-2019)
- 14 - SAC Conference Champions (8 Men, 6 Women)
- 25 - Southeast All-Region Finishers (10 Men, 15 Women)
- 46 - SAC All-Conference Finishers (26 Men, 20 Women)
- 132 - SAC Top 9 Finishers (67 Men, 65 Women)
In addition to her coaching experience, while at App State from 2006-2011, she threw every event with the exception of Javelin under the guidance of former ASU coach April Smith. Smyre was a 4-Time SoCon Champion (Weight Throw 2009,2011/Hammer 2009/Shot Put 2009), 8-Time SoCon All Conference, 12-Time All-Region performer. But arguably her greatest personal accolade was being a Division I NCAA East Regional Qualifier in the Hammer Throw (2009).
Smyre earned her B.S in Health Promotions with a minor in Foods and Nutrition while at Appalachian. She is USA Track and Field Level I certified and USTFCCCA Track and Field Academy certified.
