Inside Athletics

Fred Smith joined the athletic staff at Santa Clara University in August 2003 as the Director of Fundraising and Annual Events and was promoted a year later to Assistant Athletic Director for Development. Smith has served as the Associate Athletic Director for Development since May of 2009.

In his current role, Smith is responsible for all major gift and corporate partnership activities as well as management and oversight of sport specific fundraising efforts for the 19 varsity and 18 club sports. He oversees suite rentals in the Leavey Center and Schott Stadium. In addition, Smith is the administrator for men's and women's golf.  In the community, Smith serves on the Board of Directors for the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.

Smith was the lead fundraiser for the Sullivan Aquatic Center project, working with the Athletic Director to cultivate and solicit the $3 million lead gift that made the new home for Bronco Water Polo a reality.

From October 2006 to May 2007, Smith's duties included the oversight of the sports medicine department and 13 intercollegiate sports, including volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country and track, men's and women's water polo, softball and men's and women's golf. Smith was directly involved with budgeting, travel and schedule contracts for those teams. He was also in charge of the department's special projects designed to make the entire athletics program more competitive while maintaining a role in fundraising efforts.

When he first arrived at the Mission Campus, Smith was responsible for annual fundraising and coordination of fundraising events as well as annual gifts. He managed the Bronco Bench Foundation, which is the student-athlete scholarship fundraising group for Santa Clara Athletics, conducted the BBF's annual $1.5 million fund drive, and was a primary liaison to the BBF Board of Trustees.  Smith was also responsible for the solicitation of Santa Clara alumni, parents and former student-athletes in an effort to raise annual gifts.

Prior to joining Santa Clara, Smith spent two and one half years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Advancement at Cal Poly, where he coordinated the annual fundraising campaign for the Department of Athletics, raising more than half of a million dollars each year. In addition, Smith managed a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, directed regional development efforts and assisted in the direction of the Mustang Athletic Fund Board of Directors. He also created the Cal Poly Varsity Club and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cal Poly Alumni Association.

Smith earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1998.

Following graduation, he became an athletic academic advising assistant at UNLV, working mainly with football. Within his first year, Smith was promoted to athletic academic advisor. While at UNLV, Smith served as the assistant to the associate athletic director/senior woman administrator, where he was responsible for assisting in the direction of the Board of the UNLV Women's Sports Foundation and directed the Foundation's annual fund drive. Additionally, he coordinated UNLV's Title IX compliance and Minority Opportunities Action Plan and served as liaison to the UNLV Athletics, Gender Equity Committee; Chair of UNLV Athletics, Minority Opportunities Committee; and the Committee for a Just and Inclusive University.

Also, while at UNLV, Smith served on the host committees for Mountain West Conference baseball, soccer and women's tennis championships. He is the West Coast Conference’s representative to and active member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors and member of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan and Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Additionally, he is a former member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics.

Smith and his wife, Shauna, reside in Santa Clara, Calif. with their two sons.