Keith Smith

Keith Smith pictureIn terms of longevity, few Salina coaches can match the career of Central swim coach Keith Smith.

Hired by the Salina school district in 1981, Smith was named the Central boys swimming and diving coach that same year. He held the position for 32 seasons before retiring in 2013. 

Smith also spent 21 seasons as head coach of the Central girls swimming and diving program. He held that position for a single season in 1985, then returned as head coach for the Mustang girls from 1992 through 2011.
 
Smith also spent 23 seasons as Salina South High School boys coach and 21 seasoas as South girls coach.
 
He was a long-time proponent of dividing the Kansas State Swimming and Diving Championships into two meets — one for Class 6A and another for schools class 5A and smaller - with a desire to get more of his athletes an opportunity to compete at the state championships at a true team level. That effort was realized in 2010, when KSHSAA agreed to hold separate meets for the smaller classes in both boys and girls swimming. Coach Smith was recognized by his coaching peers within the Kansas Swimming Coaches Association, (of which he was a charter member), as the Kansas State Swimming Coach of the year in 1991, 2002, and 2010.