Windermere Lacrosse Academy

Vince Smith began his involvement in the game of lacrosse over 35 years ago as a player before transitioning to his role as a coach. Coach Smith holds coaching experience at all levels of the game of lacrosse including stints at the professional, collegiate, high school and youth levels.  Currently, Coach Smith manages all lacrosse operations at Windermere Preparatory School, serving as the Lacrosse Program Director. Smith is the Boys' Varsity Head Coach, a Boys Middle School Coach and he oversees the Girls Lacrosse Program at WPS. Coach Smith also serves as a coach for Sweetlax Lacrosse coaching the 2029 Florida team. 

Smith’s playing resume includes an illustrious high school career at St. Anne's Belfield School in Virginia, where he was named a US Lacrosse All-American in both his junior and senior seasons. Smith finished his career as the leading point scorer in St. Anne's Belfield School history with over 350 career points. Smith helped lead both the lacrosse and football programs to State Championships at St. Anne's. Smith played running back on the gridiron and played midfield in lacrosse. In 2010, Smith became the first person in the state of Virginia to capture a State Championship in the sport of lacrosse as both a head coach and player, doing so in 2000 as a player at St. Anne's Belfield School, and again in 2010 as the Head Coach of Christchurch School. 

Smith earned a bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 2007 and a master’s degree in Coaching, Athletic Administration and Leadership from Concordia University Irvine in 2018. Before attending Hampden-Sydney College, Smith played his freshman season at Division I lacrosse power, Johns Hopkins University, helping lead the Blue Jay team to the 2002 NCAA Semi-Finals. After transferring to Hampden-Sydney College, Smith tallied over 110 points in just three seasons with the Tigers Lacrosse Program.  Smith was chosen as an All-ODAC selection three times, while also being selected as a USILA All-American for his efforts in his senior season. In 2006, Smith finished as the #9 All-Time points leader at at Hampden-Sydney College in only three playing seasons.  

Once finishing his playing career, Smith served as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater during the 2007 season, helping Hampden-Sydney to post a 12-3 record. During the 2007-2008 season Smith worked in Champaign, IL at the University of Illinois as the team’s Defensive Coordinator. The team posted highs in take-aways, clearing percentage and a MCLA ranking of #15 during the 2008 season. During the winter Smith joined the coaching staff of the Major Lacrosse League's Chicago Machine for their 2008 season. Smith worked with both sides of the ball, assisted with game day preparations and ran the game-day box while assisting the Chicago Machine organization. 

In the summer of 2008, Smith took on the role of Lacrosse Program Director at Christchurch School. While serving in this role Coach Smith was the Head Boy's Lacrosse Coach and Athletic Director at Christchurch School. In his five seasons at Christchurch his program posted a 70-28 record, capturing two Virginia Independent School Athletic Association State titles during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the first two Lacrosse Championships in Christchurch School history. During his five seasons at Christchurch, Smith was also named the VISAA State Coach of the Year twice, as well as the Prep-League Coach of the Year three times. A number of Smith's players received All-Prep and All-State honors, as well as four players being named US Lacrosse All-American's, including one US Academic All-American, and one Bob Scott Character Award winner recipient. Smith also coached football while at Christchurch, helping lead the team to the VISAA State Title in 2012, serving as the offensive coordinator. 

In 2013 Smith took his talents to the collegiate ranks, being named the offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa University. After his first season leading the offense, Smith was promoted to Men’s Head Lacrosse Coach, guiding the Mavericks lacrosse program for the next eight seasons. While at CMU from 2014-2022, Smith led the Mavericks to six conference Championships, an NCAA DII Tournament appearance in 2018, and coached numerous All-American’s and All-Conference student athletes. In his time leading the Mavericks, his teams failed to win the Conference Championship in only one season outside of the 2020 Covid shortened year. When Smith left the NCAA ranks in the spring of 2022, he was the 7th winningest active coach at all levels, DI, DII and DIII, compiling a 95-26 record (78.5%), while going an astounding 46-5 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.  Smith was named RMAC Coach of the Year five times in his tenure leading the Mavericks. 

During his tenure Smith was fortunate enough to work with and lead a number of professional athletes, while working with an endless number of student-athletes helping them to become professionals in their personal lives, focusing on the growth of young people into fine men and women of high moral character.