Lenoir-Rhyne Football Coach Fred Goldsmith Retires

HICKORY, N.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne University Head Football Coach Fred Goldsmith has announced his retirement after 45 years of coaching. Current Lenoir-Rhyne Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Mike Houston has assumed the role as Acting Head Coach.

"We have been extremely fortunate to have Coach (Fred) Goldsmith work with us the past four years," said Dr. Wayne Powell, President of Lenoir-Rhyne University. "He is a winner on the field and off and we wish him and Pam (Fred's wife) all the best."

Goldsmith just finished his fourth season with Lenoir-Rhyne in 2010 and led the Bears to a 7-4 record and the team's first winning season in 16 years. Goldsmith compiled a 17-27 record as L-R mentor and the team improved every season under his watch.

"A bittersweet day with the closing of the book on an iconic and storied coach - Fred Goldsmith," said Neill McGeachy, Lenoir-Rhyne's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "This day is about Coach Goldsmith. The events to follow will be in a timely fashion."

Hired on November 28, 2006, Goldsmith became the 17th Head Coach in Lenoir-Rhyne's history.

From 2001 to 2005, he was Head Coach of Franklin High School in Franklin, N.C.

During that time, he compiled a 47-15 mark and led the squad to its most wins in school history while earning coach-of-the-year honors in 2001.

Goldsmith's early career included coaching positions at several high schools and universities.

Goldsmith has twice been voted national coach of the year at the Division I level.

He served as head football coach at Duke University (1994-1998) 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 on January 2, 1995, one of Duke's two bowl games in 40 years.

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 was Southwest Conference Champions for the first time in 14 years in 1988 when the Razorbacks finished 10-2 and earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

From 1979 to 1983, he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the United States Air Force Academy, where they received the academy's first Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

During his tenure there, the team played in the Hall of Fame Bowl and the Independence Bowl.

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 I-AA National Championship in 1978, as A&M led the country in scoring, rushing and total defense.

He has been married to the former Pamela Penland for 44 years. They have two daughters, three granddaughters and one grandson.

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.