Michele Maida Smith to be Inducted into Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame

MERIDIAN, Miss. – Meridian Community College will be represented on one of the state's biggest stages later this month as former athletic director Michele Maida Smith is set to be inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, April 28 at the Clyde Muse Center on the campus of Hinds Community College in Pearl.

Smith, who served as MCC's athletic director from 1993 to 2001, played a pivotal role in shaping the success and growth of Eagles athletics during her tenure. Her leadership helped elevate Meridian into a consistent contender on both the conference and national levels while maintaining a strong emphasis on academic achievement and student development.

During her time leading MCC Athletics, Smith oversaw a period of significant growth and success. She guided the addition of track and field and the development of a new complex, introduced fast-pitch softball, and added men's soccer — a program that would go on to capture a national championship. Under her leadership, MCC also saw cross country win a national title, slow-pitch softball claim a national championship, and baseball finish as national runner-up. Both the men's and women's basketball programs advanced to national tournaments, while the college's golf and tennis programs consistently earned national recognition.

Reflecting on the honor, Smith said, "I am very humbled and honored to be nominated and thankful for all the wonderful coaches, faculty, staff, and students at MCC who made the programs successful."

She added, "I wanted to make the athletic programs competitive on and off the field."

Smith joined Meridian Community College in 1980 and would later be named athletic director in 1993. She also served as director of the Damon Fitness Center, continuing in that role through 2010 following her time as AD.

Her induction into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame stands as a fitting tribute to a career dedicated to the growth and success of Meridian Community College Athletics. She now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Carey Smith.