Andy Smith Announces Retirement from Canisius

Andy Smith, Canisius' assistant athletic director for sports medicine, announced today that he is retiring from the University after 29 years of service to the school's athletic department.

The senior-most athletic department employee and a 1989 graduate of the school, Smith returned to Canisius in August 1996 after spending six years as an assistant athletic trainer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In his career on Main Street, which has spanned three University Presidents and three athletic directors, Smith has cared for thousands of Golden Griffin student-athletes and helped lead hundreds of future athletic trainers into the field through his role as an adjunct professor with the University's athletic training and sports medicine programs.

"Andy has dedicated 29 years to our athletic program, and he has treated our student-athletes and staff as if they were his family," Canisius Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Maher said. "His high standard of care and professionalism were evident in how he ran our sports medicine department, and he played an integral role in the athletic careers of thousands of Canisius student-athletes. Beyond his impact here at Canisius, Andy is a leader among the athletic trainers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and is highly respected by sports medicine professionals from across the country. We have been beyond fortunate to have him as a member of our University community.

"I am personally grateful for his friendship and professionalism. Andy Smith has left a lasting legacy here at Canisius."

As the assistant athletic director for sports medicine, Smith oversaw coverage for all 20 Canisius athletic teams, working directly with the men's basketball and golf programs, as well as the University's club sports programs. He administered and managed all student-athlete accident insurance, as well as the NCAA and Canisius' drug testing programs. The Western New York native also served as an adjunct professor for the Athletic Training Education Program. His certifications include BOC Certification, Clinical Instructor Educator and Emergency Care Safety Institute Instructor of CPR, First Aid and AED.

Smith has offered a variety of regional and national presentations on several topics in sports medicine. He has also been involved with the United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Team and was a volunteer athletic trainer at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. He worked the 1999 Summer World University Games in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and coordinated athletic training services at the 2004, 2007, 2014, 2017 and 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. He also played a key role in Canisius' testing and return-to-play protocols following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smith served in numerous capacities within the New York State Athletic Trainers Association (NYSATA), including Awards Chair, Treasurer, Regional Representative, Webmaster and President, where he represented nearly 1,300 certified and student-athletic trainers statewide. He was honored by the NYSATA with the Thomas J. Sheehan Sr., Award for outstanding service to the profession and was elected into the NYSATA Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also a member of the NATA's Inter-Association Task Force on "Recommended Guidelines on How to Prepare for and Manage Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) During High School and College Athletic Practices and Competitions." Those guidelines have been published in numerous journals.

Smith served on the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and chaired the NCAA Drug Education and Drug Testing Sub-Committee. He also served on the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Committee. In addition to his responsibilities at Canisius, Smith serves as an AT spotter for the National Football League.

Smith, and his wife, Carol, live in Eggertsville, N.Y. The couple has two children. His son, Grant, is a two-time Canisius graduate, having just earned his MBA from the University earlier this month. His daughter, Ava is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree from Duquesne.

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