Dodge City Community College Women's Track

Ballard enters his 10th year as the head track coach and fifth year as the head cross country coach at Dodge City Community College. Ballard also spent a year as the assistant coach. He has coached 16 NJCAA national championship qualifiers. Ballard played football at Garden City Community College, where he earned academic All-American honors his sophomore year. Ballard then transferred to Kansas State where he was a member of the Kansas State football program. A native of Haviland, Kansas, Ballard earned his Bachelor's of Science in Physical Science from Kansas State. Ballard resides in Cimarron with his wife the former Rebecca Gillig, son Cord and daughter, Blaik. He enjoys hunting and golfing in his spare time.

Smith's sixth year as assistant cross country & track and field coach at Dodge City Community College. Previously to coaching for the Conquistadors, Smith coached the hurdlers and high jumpers for the Dodge City High School Red Demon Track and Field program for three years.  Smith has been involved in track and field since the age of nine, competing in events such as the 100, 200, 400, 4X100 relay, 4X4 relay, 100 high hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles, 800, high jump, shot put and javelin. Smith competed and placed in the top 5 for several years at National AAU and TAC (USA Track & Field) track and field meets in California, Florida, Nebraska, and Kansas.  Smith was a state qualifier three out of four years of her high school career at Dodge City High School and placed in the top five in the state in the 300 intermediate hurdles two of those years as well as competing at the state level in the Javelin her senior year. She then went on compete as a hep and pentathlete at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, as well as participating in cheerleading and athletic training while maintaining the 3.7 GPA Presidential academic scholarship. Smith to this day still holds the Southwestern School record in the Pentathlon.    Smith graduated Sum Cum Laud from Manhattan Christian College with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Management and Ethics and is working to obtain her Master's in Human Health and Performance from Fort Hays State University. She also has obtained her USTFCCCA Certification of Track & Field Technical Coaching. Smith resides in Dodge City with her husband, Andy Smith, who is also a former DCHS athlete, and two children Kylee (15) and Tucker (13). Smith enjoys spending any free time she may have being active with her family. She also enjoys all types of indoor and outdoor physical activities, attending her children's school and sport activities, target shooting and any free time spent with her husband. Melanie Smith Assistant Cross Country/Track Coach Sixth year as Assistant Cross Country & Track Coach Hometown:  Dodge City, KS  High School:  Dodge City College:  Manhattan Christian College; Fort Hays State University  This is Melanie Smith's sixth year as assistant cross country & track and field coach at Dodge City Community College. Previously to coaching for the Conquistadors, Smith coached the hurdlers and high jumpers for the Dodge City High School Red Demon Track and Field program for three years.  Smith has been involved in track and field since the age of nine, competing in events such as the 100, 200, 400, 4X100 relay, 4X4 relay, 100 high hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles, 800, high jump, shot put and javelin. Smith competed and placed in the top 5 for several years at National AAU and TAC (USA Track & Field) track and field meets in California, Florida, Nebraska, and Kansas.  Smith was a state qualifier three out of four years of her high school career at Dodge City High School and placed in the top five in the state in the 300 intermediate hurdles two of those years as well as competing at the state level in the Javelin her senior year. She then went on compete as a hep and pentathlete at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, as well as participating in cheerleading and athletic training while maintaining the 3.7 GPA Presidential academic scholarship. Smith to this day still holds the Southwestern School record in the Pentathlon.    Smith graduated Sum Cum Laud from Manhattan Christian College with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Management and Ethics and is working to obtain her Master's in Human Health and Performance from Fort Hays State University. She also has obtained her USTFCCCA Certification of Track & Field Technical Coaching. Smith resides in Dodge City with her husband, Andy Smith, who is also a former DCHS athlete, and two children Kylee (15) and Tucker (13). Smith enjoys spending any free time she may have being active with her family. She also enjoys all types of indoor and outdoor physical activities, attending her children's school and sport activities, target shooting and any free time spent with her husband.