Hall of Fame
Findlay Oiler football team won the NAIA National Championship in 1992. That team has many standout players on both sides of the ball. Maybe none were more dominant than a defensive tackle, Chris Smith. Chris was a player that coaches talk about and uses as an example to younger players. He gradually improved from his very first day on the field to his final game – the national title game. Chris was named as the Defensive Player of the Game in both the NAIA National Semi-finals and the NAIA National Championship game. He was named the Conference Defensive Player of the Week three times during his senior year. Clearly, Chris elevated his game near the end of his career and was a driving force behind the national title, which Findlay won 26-13 over Linfield College. For his efforts, Smith was named an NAIA All-American in 1992 and earned All-District 22 honors after both his junior and senior seasons. Chris and teammate Bob Heitkamp, who is also in the Athletic Hall of Fame, led a defensive unit that allowed only 11 points per game en route to a 12-1 season. Chris is a native of Fremont, Ohio. He graduated from The University of Findlay in 1993 with a degree in business administration. He is currently employed as the Vice President of Smith Crane Service, Inc. He has been with the company for 13 years, the last five as vice president. He used his experience in athletics to help him get where he is today and he feels that in his own life, “Sports helped him build character, promote teamwork, learn self-discipline, and create friendships that last a lifetime.”
