Rob Smith (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Robert “Rob” Smith is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent five seasons with the Columbus Crew
of Major League Soccer
. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
.
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1991 to 1994. He holds the school’s career assists record with 40.
of USISL. The Columbus Crew
selected Smith in the second round (20th overall) in the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He spent five seasons with the Crew. Smith announced his retirement from playing on May 5, 2000.http://www.news-star.com/stories/050500/spo_trans.shtml He played one game with the Indiana Blast
. He then signed with the Charleston Battery
on August 2, 2000 for the remainder of the 2000 USL season.http://www.a-league.com/news/2000/news,2000,0004.shtml He never played a game for the Battery.
to be held in Australia
. At the World Cup, the U.S. went 1-1-1 in group play, qualifying for the second round where it fell to Brazil. Smith started all four games and assisted on two U.S. goals. In 1995, Smith was part of the U.S. soccer team at the Pan American games
. The U.S. lost all three of its first round games and did not qualify for the second round. That year, he also played on the U.S. World University Games
soccer team. In 1996, U.S. coach Bruce Arena
named Smith to the U.S. soccer team
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. The team went 1-1-1, but failed to make the second round.
.
Besides coaching youth soccer, Smith also has taught at Liberty Elementary School.
He also taught a gym class at Calumet Christian School in Columbus, Ohio for elementary and middle school students from 2002 - 2006.
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team
United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.- Gold:* Justin Huish — Archery, Men's Individual Competition* Justin Huish, Richard Johnson, and Rod White — Archery, Men's Team Competition...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
.
Youth
Smith attended the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1991 to 1994. He holds the school’s career assists record with 40.
Professional
In 1995, Smith played eleven games with the Delaware WizardsDelaware Wizards
The Delaware Wizards were soccer club based in Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware. The team played their first game in 1993 and their last in 2000...
of USISL. The Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Smith in the second round (20th overall) in the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
1996 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1996 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on March 4, 1996.-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. ...
. He spent five seasons with the Crew. Smith announced his retirement from playing on May 5, 2000.http://www.news-star.com/stories/050500/spo_trans.shtml He played one game with the Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast were an American soccer team, founded in 1997. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, and played in the D-3 Pro League, the A-League and the USL Premier Development League, until folding at the end of the 2004 season....
. He then signed with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on August 2, 2000 for the remainder of the 2000 USL season.http://www.a-league.com/news/2000/news,2000,0004.shtml He never played a game for the Battery.
National teams
In 1993, Smith was selected for the U.S. team which qualified for the 1993 U-20 World Cup1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
to be held in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. At the World Cup, the U.S. went 1-1-1 in group play, qualifying for the second round where it fell to Brazil. Smith started all four games and assisted on two U.S. goals. In 1995, Smith was part of the U.S. soccer team at the Pan American games
Football at the 1995 Pan American Games
The twelfth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 10 to March 24, 1995. Twelve teams competed, with title defender USA being eliminated in the first round...
. The U.S. lost all three of its first round games and did not qualify for the second round. That year, he also played on the U.S. World University Games
1995 Summer Universiade
The 1995 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVIII Summer Universiade, took place in Fukuoka, Japan.-Emblem:The symbol mark is a motif of "U", expressing passion and energy in the flickering flames of a burning torch...
soccer team. In 1996, U.S. coach Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
named Smith to the U.S. soccer team
United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.- Gold:* Justin Huish — Archery, Men's Individual Competition* Justin Huish, Richard Johnson, and Rod White — Archery, Men's Team Competition...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. The team went 1-1-1, but failed to make the second round.
Coaching
Since retiring from playing professionally, Smith has held several youth soccer positions beginning with Learning Through Sports, an organization he founded in 1996. In 2001, he joined the Worthington United Soccer Club and the Ohio South Olympic Development Program and continued with them both through 2003. In 2004, he joined WASA Eagles FC as the Director of Player Development.http://wasaeaglesfc.tripod.com/wasaeagles/id27.html He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
.
Besides coaching youth soccer, Smith also has taught at Liberty Elementary School.
He also taught a gym class at Calumet Christian School in Columbus, Ohio for elementary and middle school students from 2002 - 2006.