Michael Smart was named head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Coach at Essex County College in October 1986. A native of Newark, Smart returned to the school for which he had competed in 1973-75.

Smart is the only coach at Essex County College who played for and coached a National Championship team in the college’s sports history. He was named an All-American twice in the 1970s. During the past 22 years, Smart was named National Junior College Coach of the Year four times and honored by the NJCAA Region XIX three times. He was also named District/Region Coach of the Year 14 times.

Smart has developed 5 Olympic medalists 27 Olympians, 257 National Champions, 369 All-Americans, and over 300 All-Region picks. His runners currently hold 3 out of 5 NJCAA National Records in the hurdles. His women’s teams have won the NJCAA National Championship twice (1997, 2007), placed second at Nationals nine times, and placed third twice. Smart’s success is not only on the track. His runners have amassed an outstanding 98% student graduation rate at the college, and at least 90% have gone on to run for major Division 1 colleges and universities. Smart was named as a coach for the 1996 Olympic team for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the 2001 United States under 25 National Team. Smart is certified by the United States of America Track and Field (level 1) for sprints and jumps. He is also certified by the International Amateur Athletic Federation in sprints, jumps, and hurdles.