Colorado University Athletics
Staff Directory
Michael Smith
- Title:
- Assistant AD/Sports Equipment Services
- Email:
Michael Smith was named CU’s assistant athletic director for sports equipment services on July 1, 2022, a few months after he returned for a third stint working in the department.
Smith, 52, had worked for Nike for 16 years before returning to CU as a member of the facilities staff in February 2022. At Nike, he initially worked in the innovation group, furthering some of the product development that had its origins at the University of Colorado, before transitioning to the basketball group, where he managed basketball product creation for all of Nike’s global sports marketing assets, including men’s and women’s college, international federation, grass roots, and the NBA and its affiliates. When the NBA signed with Nike in 2016, Smith led the product creation process for all uniforms in the NBA, G-League, and WNBA including the launch of the successful “City Edition” uniform worn by each of the 30 NBA teams, as well as the “re-launch” of the WNBA uniforms in 2021. He traveled with and supported the USA Basketball National team in their successful Olympic tournament runs in 2008, 2012 and 2016, as well as world championship titles in 2010, and 2014.
He had been CU’s director equipment for six years (1998-2004) and 10 years as the football equipment manager, as he was hired full-time on August 1, 1995; he was an EMC, or certified equipment manager, a status he has earned for his years of service in the profession. He had worked closely with NIKE, as CU and the sports shoe and apparel giant have been partners since 1996. Together, he worked with NIKE to help create new technologies that the CU football program had been the first to experiment with, and which led to the company hiring him away from the Buffaloes.
Smith had returned at that time in 1995 to his alma mater from Utah State University, where he was head equipment director for one year. Prior to his employment in the Aggies athletic department, he worked for IN2 Sports for two years as a team sales specialist.
He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. While he was a student at CU, he worked on the grounds crew, served as a Ralphie runner (accompanying the team to the 1989 Orange Bowl), and worked three years as a student equipment manager, and was the team’s head manager his senior year.
Smith also worked five Hula bowls (1998-2001, 2004) as its equipment and operations manager, coordinating the many needs of almost 100 of college football’s most outstanding players.
He was born May 26, 1970 in Denver and graduated from Broomfield (Colo.) High School in 1988, where he lettered in golf, basketball and baseball. An avid golfer, he plays to a single-digit handicap and has played in several area tournaments. He is married to the former Reese Lovegren and the couple have a grown daughter, Lauren.
Smith, 52, had worked for Nike for 16 years before returning to CU as a member of the facilities staff in February 2022. At Nike, he initially worked in the innovation group, furthering some of the product development that had its origins at the University of Colorado, before transitioning to the basketball group, where he managed basketball product creation for all of Nike’s global sports marketing assets, including men’s and women’s college, international federation, grass roots, and the NBA and its affiliates. When the NBA signed with Nike in 2016, Smith led the product creation process for all uniforms in the NBA, G-League, and WNBA including the launch of the successful “City Edition” uniform worn by each of the 30 NBA teams, as well as the “re-launch” of the WNBA uniforms in 2021. He traveled with and supported the USA Basketball National team in their successful Olympic tournament runs in 2008, 2012 and 2016, as well as world championship titles in 2010, and 2014.
He had been CU’s director equipment for six years (1998-2004) and 10 years as the football equipment manager, as he was hired full-time on August 1, 1995; he was an EMC, or certified equipment manager, a status he has earned for his years of service in the profession. He had worked closely with NIKE, as CU and the sports shoe and apparel giant have been partners since 1996. Together, he worked with NIKE to help create new technologies that the CU football program had been the first to experiment with, and which led to the company hiring him away from the Buffaloes.
Smith had returned at that time in 1995 to his alma mater from Utah State University, where he was head equipment director for one year. Prior to his employment in the Aggies athletic department, he worked for IN2 Sports for two years as a team sales specialist.
He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. While he was a student at CU, he worked on the grounds crew, served as a Ralphie runner (accompanying the team to the 1989 Orange Bowl), and worked three years as a student equipment manager, and was the team’s head manager his senior year.
Smith also worked five Hula bowls (1998-2001, 2004) as its equipment and operations manager, coordinating the many needs of almost 100 of college football’s most outstanding players.
He was born May 26, 1970 in Denver and graduated from Broomfield (Colo.) High School in 1988, where he lettered in golf, basketball and baseball. An avid golfer, he plays to a single-digit handicap and has played in several area tournaments. He is married to the former Reese Lovegren and the couple have a grown daughter, Lauren.
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Basketball Coaches Show featuring Tad Boyle and JR Payne | 12.29.25
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Coach Boyle Addresses the Media Postgame vs. Northern Colorado | 12.28.25
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Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Johnson Address the Media Postgame vs. Northern Colorado | 12.28.25
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