Steven Smith retires after 28 season

Steven Smith has coached hundreds of student-athletes at Hope College.

Smith, 58, is retiring as head coach of the Flying Dutchmen after a distinguished three-decade career.

Smith concludes his time as a Hope coach with a 372-154-44 record that puts him 11th in wins among active Division III men’s soccer coaches after the 2017 season.

Smith became Hope’s coach in 1990 after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Manchester, Indiana.

He was voted the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1994 after his Flying Dutchmen posted a 16-2-3 record and made their first postseason appearance.

In MIAA play, Smith led Hope to nine MIAA championships and a league record of 251-92-25.

Among other accomplishments under his leadership, in 1996 his Flying Dutchmen became the first MIAA men’s soccer team to win three consecutive outright league championships, and in 2005, Hope won a school-record 13 games against MIAA opponents en route to a league title.

Smith expressed appreciation for the support he has received over the years, including the support of associate head coach Lee Schopp, who has served as Smith’s assistant the past 24 seasons after playing for him.