Lenoir-Rhyne hires Fred Goldsmith as Head Football Coach

HICKORY, N.C. -- Lenoir-Rhyne College has selected Fred Goldsmith as its new head football coach. The hiring decision was announced at a news conference on campus Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Dr. Wayne Powell, President of Lenoir-Rhyne said: "We are extremely pleased to begin the Fred Goldsmith era at Lenoir-Rhyne. Coach Goldsmith is a perfect match for Lenoir-Rhyne College. He is a man of character with a proven track record of success who will provide the leadership to guide our football team to national prominence."

Goldsmith has twice been voted national coach of the year at the Division I level. He served as head football coach at Duke University (1993-1998) and Rice University (1989-1993). While at Duke, he led the nation in football graduation rates four times and was named ACC Coach of the Year and Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 1994. He also led the team to the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1995, one of Duke's two bowl games in 30 years.

At Rice University, he led the conference in graduation rates five times. In 1992, Rice had its first winning season in 29 years and Goldsmith was named Sports Illustrated National Coach of the Year.

He also served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., from 1984 to 1988. During that time, the team had five bowl appearances and were conference champions for the first time in 14 years.

From 1982 to 1983, he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the United States Air Force Academy, where he received the academy's first Commander-in-Chief Trophy. During his tenure there, the team played in the Hall of Fame Bowl and the Liberty Bowl, where it defeated Notre Dame for the first time.

He served as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla., from 1974 to 1979. Florida A&M was the nation's only undefeated team in 1977 and was named Black College National Champions that year. The Rattlers won the inaugural NCAA Division 1AA National Championship in 1978, as A&M led the country in scoring, rushing and total defense.

"It pleases me that Lenoir-Rhyne's many assets were attractive to a man who brings such a distinguished resume," said Neill McGeachy, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Lenoir-Rhyne College. "Without a doubt, Fred Goldsmith is the right man in the right place at the right time. Lenoir-Rhyne wins again."

Goldsmith comes to L-R from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Ministry. From 2001 to 2005, he was head coach of Franklin High School in Franklin, N.C. During that time, he led the team to the most wins in its history (47-14) and was named Coach of the Year in 2001. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a color analyst for the Catamount Network of Western Carolina University.

Goldsmith's early career included coaching positions at several high schools and universities. He has previously served as a member of the NCAA Legislative Committee and Football Issues Committee, representing the ACC and all Division II through Division I programs in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. As one of the nation's leading clinicians, Goldsmith has headlined many football clinics in Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Georgia and the Carolinas. He has been an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for many years and is a highly sought-after public speaker.

He has been married to the former Pamela Penland for 40 years. They have two daughters and two granddaughters. Goldsmith grew up in Florida, where he played on the Coral Gables High School football team. He attended Western Carolina University for two years on a football scholarship and transferred to the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1967 and a master's degree in education administration in 1972.