Dwight Smith ascended to the head coach role with the LIU fencing programs in January 2024.
In the 2024-25 season, Smith coached four Sharks who qualified for the NCAA Championships, including men’s epee national champion Mo Elsayed.
Smith, who still fences competitively, was a three-time All-American while at Columbia as well as a four-time USA National Team member. As a coach, Smith was selected as the Assistant Coach of the Year by the United States Fencing Coaches Association in 2023.
In 2021, he was an Olympic alternate for USA Fencing, and traveled with the team as a training partner to Tokyo.
He has medaled at multiple national championships, including a silver in 2015, and earned bronze at the 2019 North America Cup Olympic qualifier.
In 2023, Smith was selected national assistant coach of men's epee for USA Fencing.