Founders League Honors Coach Goodman with Archibald A. Smith III Award

During Kingswood Oxford’s Winter Awards Ceremony on February 26, the KO community paused to celebrate not only a season of athletic accomplishment, but a lifetime of dedication. In front of students, families, and colleagues, science teacher and longtime track and cross country coach Fritz Goodman was named the 2026 recipient of the Archibald A. Smith III Award—one of the highest honors presented by the Founders League.

Established in 2015, the Archibald A. Smith III Award recognizes lifetime achievement in coaching across the eleven schools of the Founders League. The award celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact on their students, programs, and school communities through a sustained commitment to educational excellence, sportsmanship, and high-level competition. Each year, nominees are submitted from across the League, and the recipient is selected by a vote of fellow member schools—making the honor especially meaningful.

He described the award as one that recognizes coaches whose influence extends far beyond wins and championships—educators who shape character, inspire growth, and model integrity over the course of a career.

“This year’s recipient is someone many of you know well,” he continued. 

Dillow announced that long-serving KO faculty member and cross-country, track, and field coach Fritz Goodman was awarded the honor.

Over the years at KO, Goodman has served in multiple roles: teacher, department chair, and coach. In each, he has demonstrated the same steady commitment to students, not simply to helping them achieve success, but to helping them grow into thoughtful, resilient young adults. Whether in the classroom or on the track, his approach has always centered on curiosity, discipline, and respect.

As head coach of KO’s track and field and cross-country programs, Goodman has built teams that compete at a high level while embodying the school’s core values. His athletes are known not only for their performances but also for their character. Opposing coaches throughout the Founders League and NEPSAC frequently commend KO athletes for their sportsmanship and the way they represent their school.

“It’s not unusual for us to hear from opposing coaches who go out of their way to say how impressed they are—not just with the results, but with the character of the athletes on the team,” Dillow said.

Goodman’s impact extends beyond KO’s campus. He has contributed to the broader athletic community by helping to host the NEPSAC Cross Country Championships, consistently prioritizing students and the integrity of the sport. His leadership reflects a belief that athletics are an extension of education—an opportunity to teach perseverance, teamwork, and respect.

In receiving the 2026 Archibald A. Smith III Award, Goodman joins a distinguished group of KO faculty members, Judith Bailey and Ron Monroe, who have previously earned this recognition. Together, they represent the very best of education-based athletics: educators who understand that the true measure of success lies not only in competition, but in character.

After announcing Goodman’s name, the audience erupted and gave Goodman a well-deserved standing O.  For Fritz Goodman, the award is a testament to decades of quiet leadership and unwavering dedication.