Stony Brook Athletics is saluting its Rita & Kurt Eppenstein Stony Brook Athletics Hall of Fame inductees with feature stories on Fridays. Here's the seventh and final installment, featuring former football All-American Aden Smith '03.
STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Aden Smith owns the career tackles record as well as the top two single-season tackle totals in Stony Brook football history. His litany of awards while playing linebacker for the Seawolves from 1999 through 2002 include being named first-team Sports Network Division I-AA Mid-Major All-American and second-team Don Hansen Gazette All-American.
Now, Smith — currently a social studies teacher and the head football coach at Shoreham-Wading River High School — is among the latest inductees into the Rita & Kurt Eppenstein Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Although he achieved many awards and statistical milestones, Aden Smith's most significant impact came through his leadership as our captain," said Jophiel Philips '05, who went on to receive a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for his service with the U.S. Air Force in Afghanistan. "Aden's efforts as a well-respected leader drove us for four years during winter conditioning and spring workouts. When school ended for the summer, Aden organized summer workouts to ensure max participation and then set the example at summer camp.
"During the season he ensured we never let up. He did this for four years, bringing a new culture to Stony Brook football. Then, finally, in Aden's last season, he ensured that our first year at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium was a huge success. For the first time, in 2002, thousands of fans would come watch us every weekend, and we put on a show. Aden was the driving force behind that."
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Philips, who nominated Smith along with longtime coach Sam Kornhauser, former teammate Chimezie Okobi and SBU alum and Smith's high school teacher Keith Saunders, added: "Undoubtedly, every teammate who played with Aden will say that he set the example for us. While Aden may have never played in the pros like some of those enshrined, he did much more while at Stony Brook. He created a winning culture that was felt by Stony Brook football at the turn of the century and is still present today in Stony Brook football. All of us owe him a great deal."
Said Kornhauser: "He was a tackling machine, worked extremely hard and made everyone around him better by pushing them to their potential as well. He was so intense and wanted to win so badly. He drove everyone to be their best and was a coach on the and off the field for many of his teammates. I love this kid."
Among Smith's feats: He led the team in tackles as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was named the team's Most Improved Player in 2000 and awarded the team Most Valuable Player in 2001 and 2002. He set the Northeast Conference record for tackles in a season (140). He was a second-team All-Northeast Conference linebacker his final two seasons. And he was named the Stony Brook Male Athlete of the Year in 2003.
"It's truly an honor and a privilege to be recognized by both the university and by my peers as part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class," Smith said. "The credit goes to my parents, coaches, teammates and my community, which provided me with so many great role models. I have been truly blessed to be able to develop relationships that have guided and supported me to this point."
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Read about Hall of Fame inductee Jenny Payne Simpkins '03
Read about Hall of Fame inductee Bryan Dougher '12
