Bellarmine University Athletics

AJ Smith was hired to Bellarmine lacrosse as an assistant coach in August 2024. An Urbana, Md., native, he joined Bellarmine after serving three seasons as the head coach at Division III Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Smith played for the Knights in 2007 and 2008.
 
In his first season back at Bellarmine in 2025, 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. Also, under Smith’s guidance, senior Brady Long earned USILA Scholar All-American status and junior Christopher Reynolds earned an ASUN Defensive Player of the Week nod following a four-ground ball, two-caused turnover performance in a 9-5 win over St. Bonaventure.
 
As Capital, Smith amassed a 31-23 overall record as head coach, 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. There, 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, Smith appeared in five games over two years as a goalkeeper at Bellarmine in 2007 and 2008, using a medical redshirt in 2008. 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.