Christopher Smith joined the Valparaiso University staff in April 2020 as the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports. The position allowed him to return to his alma mater, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in December 2012 and a master’s in sports administration in May 2015.

In Smith’s role, he directs all aspects of Valpo’s intramural sports program including hiring, training, scheduling and evaluating student coordinators, scorekeepers and officials. He is responsible for the hiring, training and supervision of ARC building supervisors and lifeguards and also assists with social media and marketing for the recreational sports department.

Prior to accepting his current position at Valpo, Smith served as the intramural sports and outdoor recreation manager at Northern Michigan University from 2015-2020. His numerous responsibilities included hiring, training and scheduling 25+ intramural student officials, 4+ intramural supervisors, 10+ outdoor recreation center/climbing wall facilitators, 12+ youth camp counselors and 2+ graphic design/social media assistant students. He developed, promoted and administered 13 intramural sport leagues and 10+ special event/weekend tournaments.

Also while at Northern Michigan, Smith directed all aspects of programming for the Outdoor Recreation Center, climbing wall and equipment rental program. He assisted with the day-to-day operations of Wildcat summer and spring break youth camps and managed all aspects of social media marketing for the department. Smith assisted with the creation of NMU’s varsity esports program. In addition, he served as an adjunct instructor for the university’s department of health and human performance from September 2016 to May 2017.

Prior to his stint at Northern Michigan, Smith was the graduate assistant for recreational sports at Valpo from June 2013 to June 2015. He is heavily involved in NIRSA (National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association), having served as an engagement coordinator since 2013. During his undergraduate days, Smith was a four-year member of the Valpo football program.