Hall of Fame
Induction Class of 2013
Football
Pendleton County’s Eric Smith time as a member of the Golden
Bears can most accurately be described an active one. Eric starred
on the gridiron, as well as the baseball diamond, and the links. During
his time at WVU Tech Eric Smith set a standard for excellence in
the classroom and the competitive arena, and this trend continued
as he moved into the collegiate coaching ranks.
A multi-sport athlete, which by the 2000’s was becoming more and
more rare at the college level, Eric Smith was the catcher in baseball
and, played collegiate golf, but it was his exploits on the football
field that make him eligible for induction in to the Hall of Fame. Eric
was the WVU Tech quarterback from 2000-2002, leading a dynamic
offense that set a number of school records that lit up both opponents
and scoreboards. In 2002 he set the highest single season
record for total yards with 2872, the third of three consecutive 1000
yard-plus seasons in Montgomery. While wearing the blue & gold
he average 254 yards\game and three touchdowns per game in
conference play. At the end of his three years at Tech Eric Smith had
amassed a total of 6668 passing yards and 6961 total yards, and as
a result of this high level of play he earned a number of post season
awards. He was nominated to play in the East Coast Bowl Game
(2002), Third-Team Don Haskins All-Northeast team, and received
the BB&T Scholar Athlete Award twice, in 2002 for football, and in
2003 for baseball\golf.
After leaving Tech Eric Smith became Coach Smith and became a
well-travelled collegiate football coach. He had stops at Glenville
State, UC, Pikeville, his alma mater, WVU, and Michigan before returning
to Glenville State College as the Associate Head Coach and
Offensive Coordinator. In the 10 years on the sidelines or in the box
overlooking the field, Coach Smith has worked with five All-Conference
players, been part of a Big East Championship team (2007),
and participated in two bowl games, the Fiesta Bowl in 2008 and
the Gator Bowl in 2011.
