Friends University Women's Cross Country

Smithhisler was named the 2012 KCAC Women's Coach of the Year. The mens indoor track team placed 3 in the KCAC in both 2013 and 2014. Carlos Cox won the KCAC Championship, qualifying for the NAIA Indoor National Meet and placing 12 in the 60m dash. Smithhisler coached three KCAC distance champions in 2013 (Kristie Adams - 1000m, Rachel Renken - 3000m, women's 4X800m relay). Renken qualified for nationals and placed 11th. The Falcons set eight school records during the 2013 season. The 2014 indoor season saw five Falcon men take home KCAC titles (Dexter Davis - 60m, Lewis Taylor - 60H, Brock Nooney - 600m, Max Burley - 800m, Dylan Biedron - HJ), and Renken defended her title in the 3000m. Friends sent eight qualifiers to the indoor national meet in six different events and Burley just missed All-American status, finishing 9th in the 800m. Six more indoor records were set during the season. The men's outdoor team finished 2nd in the KCAC in 2014, winning four individual events (Davis - 100m, Nooney - 800m, men's 4X100m relay, Emmanuel Aceves - Discus). Renken also won the 3000m steeplechase and the 10,000m run. As a team, the Falcons sent 16 individuals in 15 events to the NAIA National Outdoor Meet. Derek Racette was an All-American for the second straight year in the javelin, placing 8th. In 2013, the men took the KCAC Outdoor title, winning five events (Cox - 100m, 200m, LJ, men's 4X100m relay, Racette - Javelin). Five individuals made the national meet in seven different events. Racette (Javelin) and Cecilia Burley (3000m steeplechase) both placed 8th, giving Coach Smithhisler his first All-Americans. The Falcons set nine outdoor school records in 2013 & 2014, and Smithhisler was named the KCAC Coach of the Year both seasons. Smithhisler competed at Bethany College and then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Mathematics from Wichita State University in 2000. He then taught and coached at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School for 11 years where he led the Crusaders to 12 league titles and 2 state championships (2003 Girl's Cross Country, 2005 Girl's Track & Field). He ahd his wife, Katie, have three children - Colton, Braven, and Kannon.