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L E A D E R S H I P
LEON
SMITH
ASSISTANT
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
Leon Smith is in his eighth season at his alma mater and his third as
the Assistant Athletics Director. Smith serves primarily as the team
administrator. His duties include managing and overseeing the annual
budget, supervising all non-coaching staff and office supervisor, coordinating
and negotiating all team travel, serving as staff liaison with all other
departments and coordinating and directing any special projects assigned
by the head coach and the athletic director.
Prior to returning to Lexington, Smith spent two years as an
Assistant Director of Championships for the National Collegiate
Athletic Association, overseeing management of several NCAA
Division I, II and III Championships and serving as the national
office liaison to those championship committees. Before joining
the NCAA, he worked one year for USA Basketball, serving as
the assistant director for men’s programs.
As a Wildcat, the Louisville native lettered three seasons
as a wide receiver for the UK football team (1993-95). His
best season was his junior year when he led the team in
receiving with 27 catches for 375 yards. Smith received
numerous awards, including the CFA and “SEC Good
Works Team” honors. At Trinity High School, he was a
three-year starter in football during the team’s staterecord
50 consecutive victories, which included three
Class 4A State Championships during his career.
Smith, 36, graduated from UK in 1995, and
graduated from the NCAA Leadership Institute for
Ethnic Minority Males last year. He has an 11-yearold
son, Tucker, and married the former Margaret
Ekins. The couple gave birth to Margaret Elise
Smith on September 5.
46 K E N T U C K Y B A S K E T B A L L