Derek Smith (soccer)

Derek Smith (born July 17, 1980 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky) is a retired American soccer player who last played for the Cincinnati Kings in the USL Premier Development League.

Derek Smith
Personal information
Full name Derek Smith
Date of birth (1980-07-17) July 17, 1980
Place of birth Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Cincinnati Kings
Number 21
Youth career
2000–2003 Union Bulldogs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 West Michigan Edge
2004 Cocoa Expos 10 (0)
2004 Virginia Beach Mariners
2005 Columbus Crew 0 (0)
2005–2006 Cincinnati Kings 37 (4)
2007 Minnesota Thunder 12 (0)
2010–2012 Cincinnati Kings 4 (1)
Teams managed
2006 College of Mount St. Joseph (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 28, 2010

Career

College and amateur

Smith attended Hopkinsville High School before playing soccer at Union College(KY) from 2000 to 2003. He was named the team Defensive Man of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2002 and an All-American Honorable Mention selection and First Team All-Region in both 2001 and 2002. In 2001 and 2002, he spent the collegiate off season with the West Michigan Edge of the fourth division Premier Development League.

Professional

Undrafted out of college, Smith played for the Cocoa Expos of the PDL in the summer of 2004, before signing his first professional contract with the Virginia Beach Mariners of the USL First Division. In 2005, he signed with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, and although he saw no time with the first team, he played two games with the reserves.[1]

After being released by the Crew, Smith joined the Cincinnati Kings of the PDL, and played for them for two years. On February 17, 2007, the Minnesota Thunder announced the signing of Smith to a two-year contract.[2] He played 12 games for Minnesota in 2007. Smith suffered a double sports hernia injury in the 2008 season. Smith returned for his second stint with the Cincinnati Kings in the PDL in 2009–2010.

Coaching

Smith also coaches for the Blackhawks of St. Paul U15 C1 girls which he helped to get to state, and the Saint Paul Academy and Summit School Boys JV team, which he coached to a record of 10-6 and 48 goals scored. On April 21, 2006, the College of Mount St. Joseph hired Smith as an assistant with both the men's and women's soccer teams.[3]

References
  1. 2005 MLS Reserves Archived 2010-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Thunder Announces First Two Signings of the 2007 Season
  3. "New Soccer Assistant Hired at Mount". Archived from the original on 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
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