Fred Goldsmith (coach)
Encyclopedia
Fred Goldsmith is an American
college football
coach. He is the 18th and current head football coach for Lenoir–Rhyne University, an NCAA division II school in Hickory, North Carolina
. Hired on November 28, 2006, Goldsmith arrived at Lenoir-Rhyne fresh off a successful four-year run at Franklin High School
in Franklin, North Carolina
, where he compiled an overall win-loss record of 47–15.
Goldsmith is perhaps best known for his coaching successes in the 1990s at two NCAA Division I programs that are not accustomed to success: Duke University
and Rice University
. His résumé includes the 1992 Sports Illustrated National NCAA Football Coach of the Year and the 1994 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
. At Duke, he breathed life into a program still in the doldrums of the post-Steve Spurrier
era and was known as a capable defensive tactician. His team's offenses were often hampered by the lack of athletic personnel, and forced Goldsmith to compensate by running draws on third-and-long and throwing wide receiver screens 10 to 15 times a game.
His successful collegiate coaching career, however, saw an unceremonious end when he was relieved of his duties by Duke Athletics Director Joe Alleva
just a year into Alleva's tenure, after only six wins in his last three seasons.
In addition, under Goldsmith's tenure, Duke's football program was ordered to pay walk-on kicker, Heather Sue Mercer, $2,000,001 in nominal and punitive damages for its discriminatory treatment of her during her time on the team. A federal jury found that Mercer was afforded less of an opportunity to practice and compete than other 'similarly situated' players (other walk-on kickers). Her allegations also included sexist statements made to her by Coach Goldsmith. (See Mercer v. Duke University, 190 F.3d 643 (4th Cir. 1999).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He is the 18th and current head football coach for Lenoir–Rhyne University, an NCAA division II school in Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
. Hired on November 28, 2006, Goldsmith arrived at Lenoir-Rhyne fresh off a successful four-year run at Franklin High School
Franklin High School (North Carolina)
Franklin High School is the largest high school in Macon County, North Carolina. As the name suggests, Franklin High is located in the town of Franklin, next to small shops and residential areas. There has been a rapid increase in the student body in the last few years....
in Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination...
, where he compiled an overall win-loss record of 47–15.
Goldsmith is perhaps best known for his coaching successes in the 1990s at two NCAA Division I programs that are not accustomed to success: Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. His résumé includes the 1992 Sports Illustrated National NCAA Football Coach of the Year and the 1994 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is an annual college football award given to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision head coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. The award is named for Bobby Dodd, longtime head football coach at Georgia Tech and was...
. At Duke, he breathed life into a program still in the doldrums of the post-Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
era and was known as a capable defensive tactician. His team's offenses were often hampered by the lack of athletic personnel, and forced Goldsmith to compensate by running draws on third-and-long and throwing wide receiver screens 10 to 15 times a game.
His successful collegiate coaching career, however, saw an unceremonious end when he was relieved of his duties by Duke Athletics Director Joe Alleva
Joe Alleva
Joe Alleva is the current athletics director at Louisiana State University. He officially started on July 1, 2008. He was formerly the athletics director at Duke University.-Duke Tenure:...
just a year into Alleva's tenure, after only six wins in his last three seasons.
In addition, under Goldsmith's tenure, Duke's football program was ordered to pay walk-on kicker, Heather Sue Mercer, $2,000,001 in nominal and punitive damages for its discriminatory treatment of her during her time on the team. A federal jury found that Mercer was afforded less of an opportunity to practice and compete than other 'similarly situated' players (other walk-on kickers). Her allegations also included sexist statements made to her by Coach Goldsmith. (See Mercer v. Duke University, 190 F.3d 643 (4th Cir. 1999).