Steve “Smoke” Allard has been a member of the RPI staff since 1987 and the team’s associate head coach since 2007. During his first 21 seasons with the staff, Allard served as the pitching coach. He continues to be the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Under Allard’s tutelage, the Rensselaer pitching staff has tied or set over 50 school records and set four NCAA pitching records.
In 1996 and 1997 the staff was ranked first in the nation with the lowest earned run average in the country, becoming the only team in NCAA history — at any level — to earn back-to-back pitching titles. Two of his pitchers were also ranked in the top ten in both strikeouts per game and ERA in 1997. In 1996 two Red Hawks occupied the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the entire nation in ERA.
Allard, who was selected as an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002, as selected by AFLAC and Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director magazine, has coached six National All-American pitchers, as well as many All-League and All-Region selections. In fact, all four of the All-Americans Allard has mentored were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft — Doug Drumm, who was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 19th round, Dave Lohrman, who was chosen by the New York Mets in the 42nd round, Bill Snyder, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 27th round, and Travis Teeter, who was picked by the Houston Astros in the 35th round.
A native of nearby Averill Park, Allard graduated from Massachusetts in 1987, where he was a scholarship player for the Division I Minutemen baseball team under coach Dick Bergquist. He led the team in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched as a sophomore.
Over his entire pitching career, Allard threw 17 no-hitters. A high school All-American, he was a member of the gold medal-winning East Team at the 1983 U.S. Olympic Festival.
In addition to coaching, Allard serves the Institute as the Coordinator of The Mueller Center, Programs and Club Sports.
He and his wife, Christine, have one son, Gregory.
