Smith-King Inducted into Tufts University Hall of Fame
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's own Branwen Smith-King was among eight outstanding individuals and one memorable team inducted as the sixth class of the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame at Gillette Stadium.
Smith-King was also inducted into the 2006 Athletic Hall of Fame.
Smith-King, who served Tufts University as a coach and administrator from 1982 to 2017, leaves behind an indelible legacy spanning 35 years, making her one of the most influential women in the institution's athletic history.
An Olympic-level athlete in her own right, Smith-King brought her formidable spirit of competition to Tufts University when she was initially hired as the women's track & field and cross country coach in 1982. She swiftly established the Tufts programme on a national level, guiding her student-athletes to an remarkable 13 National Championships and more than 50 All-American honours.
Her coaching prowess was evident in her recruitment of eight-time NCAA national champion Vera Stenhouse to Tufts. Furthermore, several of her teams achieved top-five finishes at NCAA championship meets, including an impressive third place at the 1989 indoor championship. Smith-King also coached Tufts University’s first-ever NCAA-qualifying women's cross country team in 1999, marking a significant milestone for the programme.
Beyond her coaching success, Smith-King transitioned into a vital administrative role, serving as Senior Woman Administrator from 2000 to 2017. In this capacity, she continued to work tirelessly as a passionate advocate for student-athletes. Her achievements included promoting wellness to incoming freshmen, collaborating closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and spearheading numerous Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) initiatives.
Branwen Smith-King's induction into the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of her profound and lasting impact on collegiate athletics, both through her coaching excellence and her administrative advocacy for student-athletes.
