Smith aims for M. Soccer position

He's young, he's successful, and he may be Penn's next men's soccer coach. Johns Hopkins coach Matt Smith confirmed yesterday that he is a candidate for the Penn job. Current coach George O'Neill's contract expires at the end of the month, and the Athletic Department announced last month that his contract will not be renewed. Smith said he applied for the job, but has not been contacted for an interview. Penn officials plan to notify candidates about interviews around December 16, he said. Penn Senior Associate Athletic Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich, who heads the department's search committee, could not be reached for comment yesterday. "I'm flattered that you know about me," Smith said. "It must mean I'll be a strong candidate for the job." Smith, a 1988 graduate of Towson State, has compiled an enviable record in five seasons in charge of the Blue Jays. His career mark of 72-19-5 (.776) is the best in the school's history. Last season, Hopkins went 15-3-1 and made its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. In addition to his college work, Smith coaches Maryland's Olympic Development Program team. The news that Smith is a candidate came as no surprise to former Penn volunteer goalkeepers coach Bob Rigby, who resigned when O'Neill's imminent departure was announced. According to Rigby, two "Division I college coaches" told him that it was known in soccer circles that the position was Smith's to be had. Rigby added that the same coaches said a Penn alumnus with connections to the Athletic Department has been pushing Smith's candidacy. Smith confirmed that an alum, whose name he could not recall, did ask him if he was interested applying for the job. "The person I talked to knew a lot about the [Penn] program," Smith said. "They knew my situation at Hopkins." Positive feedback from his colleagues has boosted his confidence about his prospects. "A couple of other Ivy League coaches have told me, 'I know you're a good candidate for the job'," Smith said. Although excited about the prospect of jumping to the Division I level, Smith made it clear he is not itching to leave Baltimore. "I'm very happy here," he said. "The only opportunity I would move for would be in an Ivy League situation." Smith applied for a coaching position at Ohio's Kenyon College, another Division III school. But he pulled himself out of the running several weeks ago, according to Kenyon Sports Information Director Joe Wasiluk. Wasiluk said he believes family considerations were important in that decision. Smith has young children and did not want to make that far a move.

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