John Smith, a former Worcester State standout as a running back, begins his third year of coaching the Lancers.  

Coach Smith helped lead the first WSC varsity football squad in 1985 to a perfect 5-0 record while in 1987 he also helped lead the charge as the team captured a MASCAC Championship and a NEFC South Division title. Smith currently holds school records for rushes in a season (229) and career rushes (564) while he is second on the all-time list in rushing yards (2,608) and scoring (198). Smith also owns the single game rushing record of 239 yards and he is fourth all-time in all-purpose yardage (3,144).

Coach Smith was a team captain for three straight years while he was named to the NEFC All-Conference football team three times. Smith was also selected as a Pizza Hut All-American honorable mention and he was the recipient of the Hal Chalmers Academic Award, presented to the top student athlete in the NEFC in 1987. Coach Smith was inducted into the Lancer Hall of Fame in 1993.