USC men's tennis soars under Smith

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Peter Smith is a humble and energetic coach who casts a carefree demeanor on the USC Tennis program.

When he took the job 11 years ago, Smith felt a like a fish out of water. "After coaching for 15 or 16 years at the D-I level, coming here with the expectations, it was incredible the difference."

The first few years in Southern California were tough as Smith struggled to find his confidence. "I felt like I wasn't accomplishing what I thought I would, and I was really putting a lot of pressure on myself, and that was really transferring to the guys."

The Trojans began a tennis dynasty in 2009 winning their first of four-straight National Championships. This historic rise came full circle two weeks ago when Smith notched his 500th career victory. "I was happy to get to 500 that was a really fun day."

Smith embraced the achievement, but quickly shifted his focus to winning the Trojans next match. "When you are a coach it can't be about you, it's about the team and about these young guys and that's what you have to stay focused on," Smith said.

His job requires pushing players buttons some days to keep them motivated. Smith loves the challenge of being a mentor on and off the court and as a father of three, the duties only escalate at home.

"So you need to take them out of their comfort zone and doing that with your own children is so much harder," Smith said. "They react so emotionally to when you push their buttons and then you have to go home with them and have dinner with them."

The tennis programs' run has energized the three-time national coach of the year. "What I am most proud of over the past five or six years is how consistent we have been and we have never gotten fat and happy, we always stay hungry and humble." 

The University of Southern California's next match is Friday against Oregon from the friendly confines of Marks Tennis Stadium.