Bill Smiley

When you stepped off the bus at the American Legion Course / Smiley Invitational there was just something different from all of the other great cross country invitationals in our state. You could feel the tradition, marvel at the beautiful layout and ready yourself to compete against the vast numbers of teams that showed up year after year. I made a point of seeking out Coach Smiley and just checking in with him and thanking him for establishing such a great meet. He was a part of the WWII era "Greatest Generation" where hard work, loyalty and a real appreciation for life was the norm. When my father passed away last year, I rummaged through some of his old college keepsakes and found an old track meet program from the Beloit Relays - 1949. Lining up next to my dad in the mile run was Bill Smiley from Grinnell. What a coincidence! RIP Coach - you were a trailblazer and a true gem.

Although I have never met Bill Smiley, from the coaches who have stepped forward to share their stories, he is certainly a coach I would’ve loved to get to know. 

To these coaches that I have a great amount of respect for, thank you for taking the time to talk about a coach who has indeed made Wisconsin high school cross country a better sport because of him. 

Long may you run. 

Shared by Joe Hanson

Thanks for sharing some personal stories about Bill.  I never knew Bill personally, just had a one time introduction and greeting with him.  Every person, that I ever knew who did have a personal relationship with Bill had nothing but the utmost praise for him.  He was certainly a special person among many in the Wisconsin CC coaches fraternity!

Shared by Mike Mulrooney

I have only met Coach Smiley a few times.  The course has a long history for me and my family.  I ran the course several times in high school.  My wifes step dad ran the course all 4 years of high school and her father ran for Coach Smiley for 1-2 seasons. I've heard nothing but great things about him.  Don Foley of GET shared some great stories this after noon.  I'm sure a great book could be written about his life.

Shared by Dominic Newman

I saw the note in the State Journal, could have been written by Don Lindstrom. Among his other achievements I took note of his Midwest Collegiate Conference experience at Grinnelll, must have been late 1940s same time my Dad was riding the Ripon College basketball bus around the MWC. It was great that for much of his life he was already honored with the ‘Smiley,’ rather than having the honor bestowed upon him after his passing. I’d also like to see his passports.  Gone but not forgotten.

 Hope that all of you are coping well.

Shared by Sean Hartnett

I started coaching CC in 1978 with Smiles. What a GREAT guy!!

My first job was with IBM, and I moved into an apt across from Wausau East HS. Went to an early CC season practice, and asked if I could run with his kids. He exclaimed, with what I learned was typical Smiles’ enthusiasm, “That would be great!”  

I started running with the Boys, but ultimately started working more with the Girls, cuz they accepted & absorbed my coaching tips & suggestions much more readily (the Boys thought they knew everything already). 

Those were great times. Smiles would have us drive to the Eau Claire Dells, and up to the park in Merrill, and School Forest down in Rothschild...lots of variety!

Our Girls finished 2nd in Class A in 1978 (Yahara Hills)(unranked! 🙂), 2nd again in 1979 (tied with Racine Case—lost it on #6)(Yahara again), and 3rd in 1980 — on a course I devised at Wausau’s American Legion GC — slightly diff’t from Wausau Inv (later Smiley Inv). 

Our Sarah Hintz won it in 1980, with her “little sister” Jennifer 3rd.  Jennifer Hintz won it in 1981, when it was again held at the Amer Legion course in Wausau (Jennifer was also 3200m State Champ in 1983).  

I moved from Wausau down to Madison to earn my MBA degree in the early 1980s...but those were great years in Wausau. 

Both Hintz girls ran REALLY well for St. Thomas — multiple times National Champs & All Americans. Sarah is a podiatrist up in Twin Cities—her daughter runs for St. Thomas. Jennifer works for Natl Park Service in Glacier Natl Park. We saw her on our family vacation out there a couple years ago. 

I was at the inaugural Wausau East Hall of Fame ceremony, when both Smiles & Jennifer were inducted. Jennifer was also inducted into our WCCCA HoF many years ago — she & Sarah are also in the St. Thomas HoFame. 

Jennifer’s 4 Wis. State CC finishes were:

7th, 3rd, 1st, and 4th (she had the flu😕)(the one year the meet was held w-a-y down at UW-Parkside: 1982).  Pretty good average place:  3.75. 👍

Kids loved Smiles!  He had his quirks (as we all do, right?), and the kids would poke fun at him, and he would just grin at them.  His enthusiasm & energy were phenomenal, and he was bursting with optimism and a can-do attitude. I rarely saw him angry or mad — though occasionally the Boys would “go too far” (the reason I left them for the Girls!) and he would have to chastise them, or even yell at them. But he held no grudges, and would quickly revert to his usual upbeat self. 

When I saw him at the State CC Meet every year, usu. up on the scaffolding at the Finish Line ( even in his eighties, I swear, right, Jimmy?), we’d start reminiscing about this & that — until we both remembered there was a Race coming up! Oops! 👍😀

R. I. P  SMILES!!

Smiley Invitational founder Bill Smiley leaves teaching, coaching legacy after recently passing away

Shared by John Chandler