Lyle Smith - Administrative Career and Honors

Administrative Career and Honors

Smith stepped down as head coach and became the school's first full-time athletic director in November 1967; the Broncos began competition as a four-year school in 1968. He hired former Vandal teammate Tony Knap as head coach in December, and Knap's successor Jim Criner in 1976. Smith retired at age 65 in July 1981, succeeded by E. Michael Mullally of Cal State-Fullerton. After just months on the job, Mullally resigned under pressure after a backlash at his new priority seating policy. He was replaced in early 1982 by assistant Gene Bleymaier, who stayed for nearly three decades. Smith was a key advisor during Bleymaier's first years as director.

At the final regular season home game before his retirement as athletic director, the playing field at Bronco Stadium was dedicated in Smith's honor on November 8, 1980. Boise State won the game over Nevada to secure the conference title and one of the four Division I-AA playoff berths in December. BSU won the opening-round semifinal over Grambling in Boise on "Lyle Smith Field" and the national title in Sacramento over Eastern Kentucky.