Ryan joined the UMass Lowell sports performance staff in 2021. He currently works with the baseball, men’s soccer, and softball teams. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Smach oversees all budgeting and operation of the student-athlete refueling station, which has included forming partnerships with local food distributors in order to provide quality products to the River Hawks. Ryan also serves as one of UMass Lowell’s representatives on the America East Student Athlete Engagement Committee.
Smach joined the River Hawks from Nova Southeastern University, where he served in the role of Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, working directly with baseball, softball, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s swimming. During his time with these programs, he was able to assist the women’s tennis team with an ITA Division II doubles national championship win and the women’s swim team with a Sunshine State Conference championship win. While at NSU, Ryan served as the internship coordinator and helped to pioneer several sport science initiatives at the university.
Prior to his time at Nova Southeastern University, Smach spent time at several institutions across the country as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach, including stops with the University of Minnesota Men’s Ice Hockey program, University of South Carolina football program, Kennesaw State University football program, and Syracuse University Olympic Sports program. These experiences were highlighted by working directly with the 2015 ACC champion men’s soccer team and 2015 national champion field hockey team at Syracuse University and working directly with three players selected in the 2019 NFL draft at the University of South Carolina.
Smach has received two master’s degrees from Nova Southeastern (MS Health Science and MS Sports Science), which is also where he received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science. He holds certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist. Lastly, Smach is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University-Chicago, expecting to graduate in 2026. During his time working towards his PhD, Smach has accumulated a vast skill set of data analysis and interpretation techniques that he directly utilizes within his sport science integration efforts for his student-athletes at UMass Lowell.
