Kurt Smitz, the man who led the University of Denver ski program from a decade of dormancy to four NCAA titles, resigned as director of skiing after 14 seasons at the school.
DU won 14 national titles from 1954-71 but dropped the sport in 1983. Smitz resurrected the program in 1993 and won his first NCAA championship in 2000. The Pioneers took the next two titles, making DU the first program to three-peat since Utah did it in 1988.
The Pioneers also won the 2005 title.
“It was a privilege to be associated with the University of Denver and the historical element to that ski team,” Smitz said. “The real opportunity was they gave me this white canvas and essentially said, ‘Paint us a picture.’ That’s something not often passed off these days. There’s usually some picture there, maybe you have to change the picture or you have to change the colors or the design. I had a white canvas.
“There’s a lot of influences involved, but there is a stamp of my influence on that canvas and that makes me proud.”
During his tenure, DU produced 21 individual national champions.
“I’ve lived it,” Smitz said. “I know no other way than to wear it on my sleeve. I’m trying to take back a personal life. I’m married now. There are things that have come into perspective of value that sometimes when you’re going solo on the circuit you miss.”
A native of Wisconsin, Smitz previously coached at Wyoming from 1985-92, having graduated from that university in 1974. He was head coach at DU his first 11 seasons and became director of skiing operations in 2003.
“Kurt did a tremendous job of rebuilding the DU skiing program,” athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes said. “He always kept the attention on his student-athletes, but today we celebrate his accomplishments.”
