Education

B. A. in History

Lenoir-Rhyne College , Hickory , NC

M.A. in Health & Physical Education

Concentration in Sport Management

Appalachian State University , Boone , NC

Currently enrolled in the Ed. D. program in Exercise & Sport Science

University of North Carolina @ Greensboro

Meet Joe Smith

Joe is currently in his ninth year on the Lenoir-Rhyne College faculty, but his association with the College spans more than two decades.  After graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne in 1985, Joe served 14 years in a variety of different athletics administration positions for the Bears including Sports Information Director, Director of Intramurals, Director of Athletics Special Events, NCAA Compliance Coordinator, Associate Athletics Director and Acting Athletics Director. 

As SID in the late 1980s, Joe won 13 NAIA-SIDA and CoSIDA publication awards, including five national first-place honors for his football game programs and basketball media guides.  He also served as Media Coordinator for the North Carolina High School Athletics Association Western Regional Basketball tournament for six years.  As NCAA Compliance Coordinator and Associate Athletics Director he served as liaison between the athletics department and the offices of admissions, financial aid, and the registrar.  He oversaw all NCAA rules compliance and education operations including matters dealing with eligibility, scholarship awarding and renewal, and playing season regulation.  From May, 2001 to February, 2002 Joe acted as Interim Athletics Director during a changeover in athletics department staff.

In addition to his athletics department duties, Joe joined the faculty following the completion of his Masters degree from Appalachian State University in 1998.  During his time at ASU, he continued to be involved in intercollegiate athletics by working in the Mountaineer sports information and compliance offices and also completing an internship in NCAA Compliance at West Virginia University .

Joe stepped down from his athletics department duties in May, 2003 to concentrate on teaching and completing his doctoral studies at UNC-Greensboro.  Joe’s experiences in intercollegiate athletics are broad and his discipline interests include youth sport, the tensions between the academic and athletics communities in higher education, Title IX, and the ethical dilemmas faced in sport.  Joe’s recent sport readings include College Sports, Inc. and Beer and Circus by Dr. Murray Sperber. Joe also recently read The Kite Runner as part of the incoming freshman class' summer read program.

Lenoir-Rhyne and doctoral studies are only part of Joe’s life.  He and his wife, Linda, have two daughters – Jenna, 8, and Lindsey, 4 and are also members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory.  Joe likes to cook, enjoys listening to music (primarily blues and jazz), and loves to play and read with his daughters.  Over the years his TV sports viewing has declined, but he still tries to find time to catch NASCAR, Alabama football, and the Atlanta Braves on occasion.  His favorites, though, are the teams at Lenoir-Rhyne.  Go Bears!