Following the games of the 19th Olympiad, Tommie played professional football under the legendary Paul Brown with the Cincinnati Bengals for three years.  He went on to become an Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Oberlin College in Northeast Ohio.  In that capacity he taught Sports Sociology and numerous life physical education courses, counseled many students and athletes who sought his expertise and advice, coached Track and Filed as well as Football and Basketball, and served as Athletic Director.

Having become a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1978, and serving on the coaching staff of the 1995 World Indoor Championship team in Barcelona, Spain, he continues to expand his horizons of accomplishments.  Tommie abstained from a coaching position on the 1997 Athens, Greece World championship due to his academic load at SMC.  He maintains a busy schedule with pride and dignity.

In 1996, Tommie Smith was inducted in the California Black Sports Hall of Fame and in 1999 he received the Sportsman of the Millennium Award.  May of 1999, Tommie Smith was inducted in the Bay Area Hall of Fame, along with Ronny Lott, Joe Montana and others.  In November of 1999, he as inducted in Lemoore Union High School Hall of Fame and the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame. 

The silent gesture made by Tommie Smith and others on the victory stand in the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games was heard around the world and has been documented by HBO TV titled “FISTS OF FREEDOM:  THE STORY OF THE ’68 SUMMER GAMES”, aired in August, 1999.  Tommie Smith often quotes “Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee” Acts 3:6.