Kiehl Smith enters his 5th year as the Head Cross Country Coach at Eastern. Smith trains many of those same runners in distance and middle distance events on the track. He is very involved with all aspects of recruiting and program development. Smith has played a key role in rebuilding Eastern's Cross Country and Distance programs. Since 2021, both men's and women's programs have seen many program records fall, as well as a roster that has tripled in size and continues to grow. As a result, Eastern's distance program has become one of the fastest improving programs in the MAC.
Before coming to Eastern, the Michigan native earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Albion College. As an athlete at Albion, he twice earned USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region recognition in Cross Country and was a two-time All-MIAA performer. On the Track, he moved toward shorter distances. In 2018, Smith set the Albion indoor program record in the 800m run with a time of 1:55.83, also receiving All-Great Lakes Region recognition. He also earned All-Region status with a 1:54.50 run in the 800m outdoors. Additionally, Smith set the indoor program record in the Mile run with a 4:16.48 and was a three-tim MIAA medalist in the Mile and 1500m Runs.
Smith is also in his 3rd year of serving as the USTFCCCA Metro Region representative for Men's Cross Country.
In Smith’s first four years at Eastern:
- 33 individual and relay MAC podium performances in Track & Field (18 indoor, 15 outdoor)
- Four Second Team All-MAC performances in Cross Country
- Three All-Metro Region performances in women’s XC
- The three highest placements by an Eastern athlete at NCAA Cross Country regi
- Twelve All-Metro Region performances in Track
- Six MAC Champion performances in Track
- Twelve Program Records
- Three NCAA DIII National qualifying performances
- Two NCAA DIII National Qualifiers
- One Second Team All-American
- One MAC Athlete of the Year
Smith helped Mary Bernotas to the 2022 NCAA Outdoor National Championships in the Steeplechase. In the 2021/22 year, Bernotas was 2nd team All-MAC and All-Metro Region in Cross Country. She also won MAC titles in the indoor 5k and Steeplechase outdoors. Bernotas set the indoor program 5k record in 18:14.15. Bernotas also held a season best of 10:53.96 and placed 18th at NCAA’s in the Steeplechase.
Smith also coached Hailey Shreffler and helped guide her to become one of the most decorated distance runners Eastern has seen. Shreffler, a 4x MAC Champion in the 800m and 1500m runs, was named the 2025 MAC Track Athlete of the Year. Shreffler also qualified for the NCAA 800m Championships both in 2024 and 2025 where she placed 18th and 12th in DIII respectively. Hailey’s 2025 NCAA performance earned her Second Team All-America honors. Shreffler also excelled in Cross Country where she was All Region twice as well as being a two time 2nd team All-MAC performer. Shreffler set program records in the 800m (2:09.87), 1500m (4:32.63), and 5k (17:39.9). Shreffler’s run of 4:32.63 also set the MAC Championship record at 1500m.
Smith lives in Wayne, Pa. with his wife, Megan.
8-6-25
