Mark Smith, the head coach who led Softball Canada to its first Olympic medal, retires

Mark Smith, the head coach who led Softball Canada to its first Olympic medal, retires
25/08/2021
The Canadian coach led the softball program to its first ever World Championship medal in 2010 (the first of three bronzes) and the first Olympic medal at Tokyo 2020.

After 43 years of playing and coaching at the international level, Softball Canada National Team head coach Mark Smith has officially announced his retirement. Smith leaves the programme on a high note, after having led Canada to its first-ever Olympic softball medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games last month.

Smith began his coaching career at the international level while still a player and over the past twenty-five years has achieved exceptional results. Since becoming head coach of the Women’s National Team, the program achieved its first ever World Cup podium results winning bronze medals in 2010, 2016 and 2018 and most recently the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. He also achieved gold at the Santo Domingo 2003 and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and two silver at Guadalajara 2011 and Lima 2019. 

“With a heart full of pride and gratitude, I step away from the game that has given me everything I have achieved in my life” stated Mark Smith. “To have had the pleasure and good fortune to play along side and learn from some of the most successful players and coaches of any era is more than I could have ever imagined. It’s been an incredible journey. 

“I step away from the game confident that the women’s program is on very solid ground and I wish the next head coach every success in building on the foundational pieces that have been laid”.

Softball Canada is currently in the search of Smith’s replacement.