The Lindenwood wrestling program has been the class of the NAIA for the past decade. The Lions have won five NAIA National Championships and been runner-up two other seasons. That success was built by Joe Parisi, but the long-time head coach recently resigned. With his resignation, the powerhouse program was left to interim head coach Chad Smith.

“Joe was a great friend and mentor,” said Smith. “I have learned a lot from him to keep us successful and I look forward to working hard and keeping Lindenwood on top.”

Smith has been a key member of Lindenwood's recent success, first as a wrestler and then as an assistant coach. Before becoming a Lion, he already had an impressive resume. At Oakville High School in St. Louis, he was a two-time state champion and three-time state finalist. He then went to St. Louis CC-Meramec, where he was a NJCAA All-American.

At Lindenwood, Smith was a member of Lindenwood's first national championship wrestling team in 2002. He earned All-American honors that year and then captured an individual national title in 2003. Smith was a NAIA Scholar-Athlete and the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year for Lindenwood.

After his playing days at Lindenwood, Smith stayed a part of the program as a graduate assistant coach. He won another national championship as part of the 2005 national championship team.

Smith went away from St. Charles for one year, coaching at Broadway High School in Broadway, Va. in 2006-07. He came back to Lindenwood the next season and has served as a full-time assistant every since. Smith has won two more rings as a member of the coaching staff of the 2008 and 2009 title teams.

Smith graduated from Lindenwood in 2003 with a major in secondary education/PE health, and he received his masters in 2006 in education administration.