A woman who came to Missouri Western State University as a student-athlete nearly 25 years ago will retire June 30 as Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. Patsy Smith will remain part-time as Athletics Business Manager. She has served this university as an athlete, a coach and an administrator.
“Patsy is a tremendous asset to Griffon Athletics and has the respect and admiration of people in the department, on campus and in the community,” said Kurt McGuffin, director of athletics. “I’m sorry to see her step down from her full-time position, but I’m happy she’ll continue to be our business manager while being able to spend more time with her family.”
Patsy was recruited by tennis coach, Karen Mollus and came to Missouri Western in 1990to earn an accounting degree and play tennis as a non-traditional student. In 1994, even before graduating, Patsy took over as tennis coach. She led the team to theirfirst-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998, and that same year became the first business manager for Griffon Athletics. Since then, she has served in the department as compliance and academics, director of finance, assistant athletic
director and her current role.
“I’m grateful for all that Missouri Western has made possible for me,” Smith said. “The opportunity to represent this university on the regional and national level has been a great experience.” Patsy has served on the NCAA Division II Championships Committee, the NCAA Regional Advisory Committees for tennis and women’s basketball along with several other NCAA and MIAA leadership positions.
With her retirement, she just stepped down as the MIAA Chairman of the Institutional Representative Council.
Patsy graduated from Missouri Western with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting in 1995. Both of her daughters, Wendy and Shannon, also played tennis at Missouri Western; Wendy and Patsy were teammates as the squad’s No.1 doubles team, and Patsy later coached Shannon.
Patsy is married to Tom Smith, who took Patsy’s former position as women’s tennis coach after retiring from a 25-year career as head men’s basketball coach. The couple has 11 grandchildren.
— MWSU Sports Information —