Missouri Baptist University Director of Athletics Dr. Thomas Smith has been selected by his peers as the 2009-2010 American Midwest Conference Athletic Director of the Year. This is the second time Smith has received the honor, having earned the title in 2005 as well.

Smith has headed the MBU Athletic Department since 2003. During his tenure, the Spartan Athletic Program has boasted several AMC Champion teams, 152 NAIA All-Americans and 67 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes. In 2009-10, MBU had 18 Scholar-Athletes, the most in a single year in program history.

Under his guidance, the MBU Athletic Department has been recognized as a NAIA Champions of Character program for eight consecutive years. Dr. Smith has also implemented an athletic study hall program, resulting in a consistently improving overall student-athlete GPA.

Along with his administrative duties, Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor in both the Education and Health & Sport Sciences divisions at MBU.

In addition to his service at MBU, Dr. Smith also assumed the role of AMC President in 2009. He is a member of the NAIA Administrative Council, is the Vice-Chair of the NAIA NAC Awards & Statistics Committee, and serves as the NAIA Men's Wrestling Sport Liaison.

AMC Commissioner Lowell Pitzer said, "Dr. Smith has provided leadership at MBU through the involvement of all coaches in NAIA Champions of Character program, increasing the overall academic GPA, and mentoring/advising student-athletes and coaches in issues that affect their journey in life."

As the American Midwest Conference Athletic Director of the Year, Dr. Smith will now be nominated along with the other NAIA Conference Athletic Directors of the Year to receive the National Athletic Director of the Year honor.