Smith College Athletics

The Sophia and Austin Smith Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Peter de Villiers, came to Smith in 1979 and was instrumental in the formation of the track and field program. Upon arrival, he chaired an ad hoc committee that established a Department of Athletics separate from the Physical Education Department. As the co-coach of the intercollegiate track and field team in 1981, de Villiers had five athletes qualify for the EAIAW Eastern Track and Field Championships. Throughout his time as a faculty member, Peter has chaired numerous committees relative to the Smith Department of Athletics and Recreation. 

In his own running career Peter competed in the decathlon and captained the Athletics Team at Rhodes University in South Africa, finishing second and third in the South African Decathlon Championships in 1965 and 1966. As a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, he was the President of the Athletics Team and won the British AAA Decathlon Championships in 1969 and the British Universities Decathlon Championships in 1970. 

Since his retirement from teaching in 2019 he has enthusiastically returned as a volunteer assistant coach for the sprinters, hurdlers, and long jumpers.