Staff Directory

David Silversmith

Title:
Assistant Coach, Cross Country / Track & Field
Email:
Phone:
862-8247

David Silversmith is entering his fourth year as the Assistant Distance / Track & Field Coach in 20226-27. Silversmith was named Tulane's Assistant Coach in May of 2023.

Silversmith made an immediate impact upon arriving in Uptown, as he aided in guiding the Tulane women's cross country team to an American Conference championship in his first season with the squad. It was the program's first-ever conference title. He has coached a conference championship in cross country all three seasons with the Green Wave, as the men claimed the conference crown in 2024 before the women regained the title in 2025. The women's team has finished as either the runner-up or champion all three seasons under Silversmith, and the men's team has finished no worse than third. In 2025, he guided the men's cross country team to an NCAA South Central Regional title, making Tulane the first school other than Texas or Arkansas to ever claim the regional victory on the men's side. The conference titles don't stop with cross country, as the women's indoor track and field program won the 2025 American Conference title, a program first.

Under Silversmith, Tulane's athletes have accrued a variety of individual honors, including five All-America selections. Caroline Jeptanui secured the honor in cross country in 2024 before Bernard Cheruiyot earned the honor on the men's side in 2025. Cheruiyot added an outdoor track and field honor in the 2025 campaign, and Silas Kiptanui became a back-to-back All-American in the 3,000m steeplechase in 2025 and 2026. Kiptanui made history with his 2026 finish as the national runner-up, marking the best finish ever by a Tulane track and field or cross country athlete in any event at nationals. Between cross country and indoor and outdoor track, Silversmith has coached four women's conference champions and seven men's conference gold medalists. Furthermore, multiple athletes have won conference specialty awards under Silversmith. Gemma Rebollo was tabbed American Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2023 with Jeptanui securing the honor in 2024. That same season saw Blezzin Kimutai and Cheruiyot claim American Cross Country Freshman of the Year honors for the women and men, respectively. Cheruiyot was also tabbed the American Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Silversmith came to Tulane after serving as the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Cross Country Coach and as the Assistant Track & Field Coach from February 2020 through May 2023.

During the 2023 indoor campaign his Distance Medley Relay (DMR) group won the event and set the school record at the Sun Belt Conference Championships. He also coached Kimone Campbell to a personal best and school record in the 800m plus as part of the DMR and as a member of the 4x400 relay team. Under his tutelage, Paula Vaquera set the school record in the women’s mile, while also being part of the school record DMR squad. Additionally, he coached Amanda Radava to personal bests performances as part of the school record DMR squad and the 4x400 relay team.

In the fall of 2022 his two cross country programs were both U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic squads. His women’s team placed 16th in the NCAA South Central Regional with all his runners topping personal best by at least 50 seconds at the regional. It was the highest finish for the women since 2011. The men’s squad had their best Sun Belt Conference team finish since 2013 in placing sixth.

During the 2022 (and current 2023) track and field season, he has coached Campbell to her then personal best and school record in the 800m, as part of the DMR and as a member of the 4x400 relay team. The women’s indoor team ranked as high as No. 10 in the South Central Region by the USTFCCCA.

In the 2021 cross country season, Silversmith mentored a pair of All-Sun Belt Conference performances, while the women’s team finished fourth at the SBC Championship. It was the best showing for the team since joining the conference prior to the 2006 season. Additionally, it was the best performance for the women in program history at a cross country conference meet.

The Warhawk women’s cross country team also cracked the USTFCCCA regional rankings for the first time in program history, coming in at No. 14 in the South Central Region on Sept. 21.

Off the track, both the ULM men’s and women’s teams earned All-Academic Team recognition by the USTFCCCA in the fall of 2021.

Silversmith came to ULM after spending two and a half seasons at UNC Greensboro, where he was the cross country coach and assistant track coach. He helped the Spartans to a third-place finish at the Southern Conference women's cross country championships in 2019, while the men finished in fifth place.

He served as volunteer assistant coach for cross country and track and field at North Carolina in 2015-16. While he was on staff at UNC, four different runners received All-ACC cross country honors. Six different runners picked up All-Region honors in cross country. During the 2015-16 season, the Tar Heels earned three top-five finishes as a team, including third place in the NCAA Southeast Regional.

Silversmith also served as a camp counselor around the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, area for several years, working with the Carolina Distance Camp and Tar Heel Track and Field Camp.

Silversmith ran track and was an All-American cross country athlete at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. He earned his bachelor's degree from the school in 2013. He received his master's degree in 2016 from Michigan State.