Woody Kincaid is an American long-distance runner born on September 21, 1992, in Littleton, Colorado. He specializes in the 5000 and 10,000 meters events. Since 2023, Kincaid has been coached by Mike Smith, who previously trained under Jerry Schumacher from 2016 to 2022. He made this coaching change after moving to Flagstaff, Arizona.
Kincaid is a two-time national champion in the 10,000 meters (2021 and 2023) and holds the North American indoor record for the 5000 meters (12:51.61). He has represented the United States at multiple international competitions, including the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, as well as the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Kincaid has been competing professionally for Nike since 2016, following his college career at the University of Portland.
Quick Facts on Woody Kincaid's Coach
| Coach Name | Mike Smith |
| DOB | April 3, 1980 |
| Hometown/Birthplace | Holden, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Employers/College Team | Northern Arizona University |
| Occupation | Director of Cross Country and Track & Field |
| Sports | Cross Country, Track and Field |
| College | Georgetown University |
Woody Kincaid's Coach
Mike Smith has been the director of cross country and track and field at Northern Arizona University since 2017. He took on coaching Woody Kincaid in 2023 when Kincaid decided to make a change in his training environment.
Woody Kincaid's Previous Coach List
| Years | Coach Name | Team/Organization |
| 2016-2022 | Jerry Schumacher | Bowerman Track Club |
| College | Rob Conner | University of Portland |
Mike Smith's Wife
Mike Smith is married to professional runner Rachel Schneider (now Rachel Smith). They met at Georgetown University, where Smith coached Schneider. The couple has one child, Nova, born in 2023.
Mike Smith Coaching Career
Amateur Career
Mike Smith competed for the Wachusett Regional High School Mountaineers where his team placed 2nd at the 1997 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country championships. Smith also placed 8th at the 1998 New Balance Outdoor Nationals two-mile run.
College Career
Smith completed his college running career at Georgetown University. After graduation, he worked as an elementary school teacher for two years and earned a master's degree.
Professional Career
In 2006, Smith moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he worked under Dr. Jack Daniels at the NAU Center for High Altitude Training and founded Team Run Flagstaff. He competed in trail and road races and qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon.
Smith began his college coaching career at Georgetown University in 2012. He rose through the ranks to become the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field during the 2015-2016 academic year.
In 2017, Smith became the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Northern Arizona University. Under his leadership, the NAU men's cross country team has won five NCAA Division I championships titles.
Mike Smith Record
Mike Smith's coaching achievements:
34 Big Sky Coach of the Year awards
7 Chick Hislop Awards for USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year
5 Bill Dellinger Awards for the National Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year
1 USTFCCCA National Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year award
Mike Smith Awards & Achievement
Led NAU men's cross country team to five NCAA Division I championships titles (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Coached multiple individual NCAA champions, including Nico Young (indoor 3000m and 5000m in 2024)
Guided athletes to set collegiate records, including Drew Bosley's indoor 3000m record in 2023
Coached Olympians and World Championships participants, including Luis Grijalva and Abdihamid Nur
Since taking on Woody Kincaid as an athlete in 2023, Smith has overseen some significant performances:
On January 27, 2023, Kincaid broke the North American indoor record in the 5000m with a time of 12:51.61 at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic.
In 2023, Kincaid won the 10,000m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
In 2024, Kincaid qualified for his second Olympics with a second-place finish in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic trials.
FAQ's
A. Woody Kincaid currently trains in Flagstaff, Arizona. He relocated there in 2023 after leaving the Bowerman Track Club, seeking a change in his training environment.
A. Kincaid left Bowerman seeking new training approaches as he got older and to avoid feeling overshadowed by younger teammates. He wanted to prioritize his own development and maximize his remaining time as a competitive athlete.
