Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wayne Smith Promoted to Assistant AD for Equipment
8/1/2022 9:00:00 AM | General
Smith, an EMU graduate, has worked in the department since 2008
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced today, Aug. 1, that Wayne Smith has been named the department's Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment Operations. Smith has served as an assistant equipment manager at EMU since 2008, after first gaining experience as an undergraduate student between 2004-08. He replaces Ben Herman, who had served in the role since May 2015 before pursuing another opportunity earlier this month.
"I am thrilled to announce the elevation of Wayne Smith as our next Assistant AD for Equipment Operations," said Wetherbee. "Wayne has been here every step of the way during my time at Eastern, and he has earned the opportunity to lead the department that he has been working in since his undergraduate years. Wayne has vast experience, and has been instrumental in establishing our equipment operations during his time here. I have no doubt that he is the right choice to lead the equipment room for years to come. It is always special getting to keep one of our own at home."
In his new role, Smith will oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of Eastern's athletic equipment office. He will also provide direct supervision to the other full-time equipment personnel at EMU and serve as one of the department's primary liaisons to adidas, the University's official athletic apparel partner.
"I cannot thank Scott Wetherbee, Stacie McMullen, and the rest of the administration enough for trusting me to lead the equipment operations department," said Smith. "I am excited to continue serving our student-athletes and coaches in this new role as they pursue championships."
Smith began working in Eastern's equipment room as a freshman and has remained with the department since. Upon graduation, he was hired in a full-time role. In his most recent stint as the assistant equipment manager, Smith was charged with overseeing all day-to-day equipment needs of the men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and numerous Olympic sports programs.
In addition to his daily duties, Smith has served as a key member of the gameday staff at both home and away football games during his tenure. Smith is trained to operate and serves as EMU's main liaison to CoachComm, the football team's on-field coaching communication technology. He also played a key role in the logistical planning and operations for EMU football's first-ever international competition, the 2016 Bahamas Bowl.
Smith has also helped overhaul Eastern's equipment operations into new levels of efficiency during the last several years, helping to install, implement, and utilize the department's first fully-digital equipment inventory and scanning system. That undertaking has allowed the department to distribute items to student-athletes and staff more efficiently, while also eliminating the purchase of unnecessary inventory.
At the strategic level, Smith has been involved in numerous initiatives at Eastern. Smith was one of the staffers that first conceptualized and helped implement the EMU equipment spring game sale, a now semi-annual event that allows fans to purchase new or lightly-used, officially licensed EMU gear at discounted prices. The sale has helped EMU raise critical revenue toward departmental goals during its existence. Additionally, Smith has worked with administrators in numerous capacities, and has been Eastern's main point of contact with multiple local vendors and business owners that serve the University's athletic equipment operations during his time on campus.
Smith has also helped to oversee and manage equipment's graduate assistant and student assistant staff during his time in the Green and White.
A Detroit, Mich. native, Smith graduated with his bachelor's degree in general studies in 2022. He is a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA).
He married his wife, Kristal, in 2015, and in 2021, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah.
"I am thrilled to announce the elevation of Wayne Smith as our next Assistant AD for Equipment Operations," said Wetherbee. "Wayne has been here every step of the way during my time at Eastern, and he has earned the opportunity to lead the department that he has been working in since his undergraduate years. Wayne has vast experience, and has been instrumental in establishing our equipment operations during his time here. I have no doubt that he is the right choice to lead the equipment room for years to come. It is always special getting to keep one of our own at home."
In his new role, Smith will oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of Eastern's athletic equipment office. He will also provide direct supervision to the other full-time equipment personnel at EMU and serve as one of the department's primary liaisons to adidas, the University's official athletic apparel partner.
"I cannot thank Scott Wetherbee, Stacie McMullen, and the rest of the administration enough for trusting me to lead the equipment operations department," said Smith. "I am excited to continue serving our student-athletes and coaches in this new role as they pursue championships."
Smith began working in Eastern's equipment room as a freshman and has remained with the department since. Upon graduation, he was hired in a full-time role. In his most recent stint as the assistant equipment manager, Smith was charged with overseeing all day-to-day equipment needs of the men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and numerous Olympic sports programs.
In addition to his daily duties, Smith has served as a key member of the gameday staff at both home and away football games during his tenure. Smith is trained to operate and serves as EMU's main liaison to CoachComm, the football team's on-field coaching communication technology. He also played a key role in the logistical planning and operations for EMU football's first-ever international competition, the 2016 Bahamas Bowl.
Smith has also helped overhaul Eastern's equipment operations into new levels of efficiency during the last several years, helping to install, implement, and utilize the department's first fully-digital equipment inventory and scanning system. That undertaking has allowed the department to distribute items to student-athletes and staff more efficiently, while also eliminating the purchase of unnecessary inventory.
At the strategic level, Smith has been involved in numerous initiatives at Eastern. Smith was one of the staffers that first conceptualized and helped implement the EMU equipment spring game sale, a now semi-annual event that allows fans to purchase new or lightly-used, officially licensed EMU gear at discounted prices. The sale has helped EMU raise critical revenue toward departmental goals during its existence. Additionally, Smith has worked with administrators in numerous capacities, and has been Eastern's main point of contact with multiple local vendors and business owners that serve the University's athletic equipment operations during his time on campus.
Smith has also helped to oversee and manage equipment's graduate assistant and student assistant staff during his time in the Green and White.
A Detroit, Mich. native, Smith graduated with his bachelor's degree in general studies in 2022. He is a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA).
He married his wife, Kristal, in 2015, and in 2021, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah.
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