The 2026-27 school year will be Smego's second at Otterbein.
In her first year with the Cardinals, Smego spearheaded the revival of The Cardy Awards, Otterbein's ESPY-like student-athlete award show, bringing the event back to campus for the first time since 2019. She was one of the official statisticians for the 2026 Stagg Bowl, the Division III Football National Championship game. Smego also has worked a number of Ohio State basketball games as an official scorer, including the NCAA Women's March Madness Round of 32.
Prior to Otterbein, Smego was the Sports Information Director for five years at Albion College. While at Albion, Smego earned recognition as a three-time MIAA Hartman Award winner for the best feature story across the conference. She won the award for her stories about a men’s soccer player whose study abroad trip was cut short by the pandemic, a football senior class that chose to return for a fifth year amid uncertainty, and the men’s lacrosse team’s bond with a 14-year-old cancer patient. Smego mentored Albion's first-ever Renner Award winner in 2024, which is awarded to the top student assistant in sports information in the league.
In December of 2024, she was named to the inaugural class of the NCAA Division III Emerging Elite, which recognizes rising leaders in the field. Smego later served as a mentor at the 2025 CSC Convention as part of the DIII Student Mentorship program.
Before her arrival at Albion, she was the Director of Athletic Communications for two years at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. At MacMurray, she implemented the live streaming of soccer, baseball and softball. Smego also developed the first game day programs and football flip cards for the Highlanders.
She is also an active member of the DIII USBWA National Player of the Week committee, helping recognize top performers across collegiate basketball.
"I'd like to thank Dr. Greg Lott, Stacey Conley, and everyone involved in the search process for the opportunity to join the Otterbein community," Smego said. "The OAC is home to me, and I'm excited to share the stories of the student-athletes and coaches at Otterbein. There's a rich tradition here, and I can't wait to be part of shaping its next chapter."
Smego graduated from Heidelberg University in 2016 and received her MBA from the university in 2018 following a two-year stint as the sports information graduate assistant. She was a two-time All-OAC and All-Region selection, the 2015 OAC batting champion with a .477 average, and helped lead the program to back-to-back OAC Tournament titles. She still holds Heidelberg records for career hits (201), single-season hits (71), and single-season doubles (21), as well as ranking in the top 10 in seven different offensive categories.
