Career
His overall coaching record at Colgate was 3 wins, 0 losses, and 0 ties. As of the 2007 season, this ranks him 26th at Colgate in terms of total wins and first at Colgate in terms of winning percentage. The 1892 team was the first in Colgate history to go undefeated with victories over Hamilton, Rochester, and Saint John"s Academy.
Some sources say that the 1892 team was coached by Samuel Colgate, Junior. and not Preston Smith.
Smith attended Colgate and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1893. He played on the football team from 1890 to 1893, serving as captain in 1891 and 1892 (player-coach in the latter year).
He lettered in the sport in 1890, 1891 and 1892. Smith married Cordelia (Cora) Roberts in 1895.
He later moved to Bayonne, New Jersey where he was a school principal.
He died in 1945.