Smith builds a top program at Greer Middle College

GREER – Seven years ago, David Smith stepped away from cross-country in Greenville County following the death of his wife, Patti.  He took a similar job forty-five minutes away in Oconee County, where he also would be closer the couple’s two children who at the time were attending Clemson University.

“I was making that hour-and-a-half commute every day,” Smith recently told scrunners.com.

Two years later, in 2008, Smith returned to Greenville County, serving briefly as cross-country coach at Blue Ridge High, and then a year later he took the same job down the road at the new Greer Middle College Charter High School, a move that has turned into a very good fit for the legendary coach.

“I thought I was going to retire after the year at Blue Ridge, but Bill Roach, a good friend of mine, offered me the opportunity to coach here,” Smith said.  Roach is executive director at Greer Middle College.

The small school operates out of portable classrooms on the grounds of the Greenville...