Former Knight AJ Smith was hired as an assistant coach with Bellarmine University lacrosse in August of 2024.
In his first season back at Bellarmine in 2025, the Knights earned their fourth straight trip to the ASUN Championship while compiling eight wins. Smith coached a defense that caused 120 turnovers on the season, the sixth-best mark in program history, and held opponents to eight or fewer goals four times. In 2026, defenseman Christopher Reynolds was a Preseason All-ASUN Team selection while defenseman Dillon O’Rourke was recognized on the ASUN All-Freshman Team.
Prior to his arrival at Bellarmine, Smith served as the head coach of Division III Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, for three seasons (2022-24). He amassed a 31-23 overall record at the helm, reaching the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament in each of his three seasons. In 2024, he coached Comets attackman Mason Spaulding to USILA Division III All-American honorable mention, IMLCA All-Region and OAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. His teams also earned 18 All-OAC laurels, including eight in his final season.
Prior to his tenure at Capital, Smith spent three seasons as the top assistant at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., where he coordinated recruiting, academics and the Hornets’ defense. While at Shenandoah, he also was the head coach for Team Maryland Lacrosse Club.
Smith also made previous assistant coaching stops at Virginia Wesleyan (2017 and 2018 seasons) and Ferrum College (2015 and 2016 seasons).
In 2018, Smith earned a selection as a player to Team France for the FIL Championship in Israel. He netted four goals and handed out three assists en route to being named team MVP.
As an undergraduate at Bellarmine, Smith appeared in five games as a goalkeeper for the Knights in 2007 and 2008, using a medical redshirt in the latter year. He then transferred to Virginia Wesleyan where he competed for three years before graduating in 2011. In 2018, he earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Adams State, where he previously served as a graduate assistant.
