Track and Field
Smith, Diavonte
Diavonte Smith
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Sprints and Hurdles
- Email:
- diavonte.smith@uni.edu
Diavonte Smith begins his second season at UNI in 2019-20.
Smith, who joined the Panther staff during the 2018-19 season with a coaching emphasis in sprinting and hurdle events, was named the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference's Men's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year after helping coach UNI to four MVC men's outdoor titles, including the 100 and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 110-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. Panther athletes under Smith's coaching totaled 62.5 points as the UNI men took second place in the team standings, with the women finishing fourth.
During his first season with the Panthers in 2018-19, his athletes turned in impressive marks. In the 110 hurdles, Connor Ham took first. He was joined on the podium by teammate Cole Phillips who took third. Two Panthers made the final in the men's 100-meter dash and the men's 4x100-meter relay team finished second. On the women's side, the Panthers finished fourth in the 4x100-meter relay and Taylor Raines finished fifth in the 100-meter dash and Patrice Watson finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles.
At the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship. Ham was named the MVC Most Outstanding Athlete after winning the 60-meter hurdles. Watson also earned All-conference honors in the 60-meter hurdles.
He came to UNI after a year-long stint as a volunteer assistant at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders finished fifth in the 2018 Men's NCAA Outdoor Championship and sixth in the 2018 Men's NCAA Indoor Championship. He coached the 2018 NCAA 200m National Champion Divine Oduduru. He also mentored six NCAA Big 12 Champions and six NCAA West Regional Qualifiers.
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, he worked as a volunteer assistant for Central Michigan. He coached two athletes that earned All-Conference MAC honors and two school records were set under his tutelage.
Before becoming a coach at Central Michigan, he was a two-time All-MAC performer for the Chippewas. He qualified for the 2013 NCAA East Regional in the long jump.
Smith is joined in Cedar Falls by his wife and two children.
Smith, who joined the Panther staff during the 2018-19 season with a coaching emphasis in sprinting and hurdle events, was named the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference's Men's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year after helping coach UNI to four MVC men's outdoor titles, including the 100 and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 110-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. Panther athletes under Smith's coaching totaled 62.5 points as the UNI men took second place in the team standings, with the women finishing fourth.
During his first season with the Panthers in 2018-19, his athletes turned in impressive marks. In the 110 hurdles, Connor Ham took first. He was joined on the podium by teammate Cole Phillips who took third. Two Panthers made the final in the men's 100-meter dash and the men's 4x100-meter relay team finished second. On the women's side, the Panthers finished fourth in the 4x100-meter relay and Taylor Raines finished fifth in the 100-meter dash and Patrice Watson finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles.
At the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship. Ham was named the MVC Most Outstanding Athlete after winning the 60-meter hurdles. Watson also earned All-conference honors in the 60-meter hurdles.
He came to UNI after a year-long stint as a volunteer assistant at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders finished fifth in the 2018 Men's NCAA Outdoor Championship and sixth in the 2018 Men's NCAA Indoor Championship. He coached the 2018 NCAA 200m National Champion Divine Oduduru. He also mentored six NCAA Big 12 Champions and six NCAA West Regional Qualifiers.
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, he worked as a volunteer assistant for Central Michigan. He coached two athletes that earned All-Conference MAC honors and two school records were set under his tutelage.
Before becoming a coach at Central Michigan, he was a two-time All-MAC performer for the Chippewas. He qualified for the 2013 NCAA East Regional in the long jump.
Smith is joined in Cedar Falls by his wife and two children.
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