Local product Matt Smith was destined for success in the world of golf after starting to learn the game at seven years old. He later qualified for the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur in Oregon before earning first team All-Ohio honors at Tree of Life Christian High School in 1994.

After originally beginning his college career at Ohio State, Smith transferred to Otterbein as a redshirt sophomore and started racking up accolades from both a team/individual standpoint. The Cardinals won three-straight Ohio Athletic Conference titles with him in the lineup from 1997-99, going on to finish third, second and fourth (respectively) at the NCAA Championships.

Smith is one of just four players in program history to be a 3x All-American, including first-team status as a junior in 1998 following his memorable NCAA performance at Jekyll Island in Georgia. That week, he finished sixth alone by shooting even par for the entire tournament.

Known for his incredible short game around the greens, Smith took fourth individually at the OAC Championships as a junior and nearly captured medalist honors the following year as a senior. He and teammate Tim Collins both fired a two-day total of 150 (five shots better than everyone else) to deadlock atop the board. Collins later outlasted Smith in a playoff before the duo spearheaded Otterbein to another top-five finish nationally.

Matt earned his degree in sport management and then, shortly thereafter, qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach in California. He continued finding success on the course post-graduation, landing Southern Ohio Apprentice Player of the Year honors in 2001 after winning the championship at Muirfield Village.

His impact at Otterbein did not end with his player career, however, as Smith returned to his alma mater as head coach (at just 24 years old) from 2001-06. His leadership guided the Cardinals to six-consecutive OAC crowns while at the helm, spearheaded by a notable comeback during his first season when the team overcame a 17-shot deficit entering the final round. The Cardinals finished Top-10 nationally three times during his stretch on staff. Smith was a 3x OAC Coach of the Year, 2x Regional Coach of the Year, 2x District Coach of the Year and ultimately racked up nine OAC titles altogether as a player or coach.

Since college, Matt has enjoyed a lengthy career teaching the game to future generations as an instructor at Bridgeview Golf Center, Four Seasons Golf Center, Pinnacle Golf Club and the Assistant Professional at The Willows. He is a 3x United States Golf Teachers Cup Champion (2012, 2013, 2017) and created the Matt Smith Golf Academy in 2019, now helping send multiple prospects each year on to college scholarships.

Matt and his wife, Claire, have two children and reside in Pataskala.