Bio

Dr. Darnell Smith is the inaugural Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational  Sports at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, leading the launch of the first intercollegiate  athletics program in South Bexar County following approval by the A&M University System  Board of Regents in 2019. He oversees the strategic direction of the department, including  compliance, facilities, finances and fundraising, and guided the introduction of women’s  softball, men’s golf, and men’s and women’s soccer. Smith brings more than 15 years of  experience in athletics strategy, compliance and student-athlete development. Prior to  joining A&M-San Antonio, he served for a decade as Assistant Athletic Director of  Compliance at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he managed NCAA compliance,  student-athlete services and welfare initiatives. He also served as Deputy Title IX  Coordinator for Athletics and chaired the Division II Ethnic Minority and Women’s  Internship Grant Committee. A former defensive end at Oklahoma State University, Smith  was a three-time Arthur Ashe Scholar Award recipient and earned Academic All-America  honors. He holds degrees from Oklahoma State University and completed his Ph.D. in  Adult and Higher Education with a focus in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from the  University of Oklahoma in 2025.