AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Athletics Department is parting ways with Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Martin Smith. Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard informed Smith of the decision Wednesday morning.
Smith, who oversaw both the men’s and women’s programs the last eight years, will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Jeremy Sudbury.
“I’ve decided that we needed new leadership in the programs going forward,” Pollard said. “We’ve had some significant success under Martin’s direction, but my personal observations over the last year convinced me that a change needs to be made.”
Iowa State won four Big 12 championships – three in men’s cross country and one in indoor track and field – for Smith. The 2020 men’s indoor track title was the school’s first as a member of the Big 12.
Four of his student-athletes (Christina Hillman, Edward Kemboi, Edwin Kurgat and Wesley Kiptoo) won six NCAA championships for Smith.
The transition to Sudbury, which is effective immediately, will be a seamless one.
“Jeremy has been on staff for eight years and has been instrumental in recruiting and coaching a number of our most prominent student-athletes,” Pollard said. “We have the utmost confidence in his ability to recruit, train and lead our student athletes. We look forward to our track and cross country programs continuing to compete for Big 12 championships and top NCAA finishes.”
Amy Rudolph will continue to lead the women’s cross country team (as an assistant coach), which won its seventh Big 12 championship in the last decade in 2021.
