For the past eight years, coach Smith has been a part of the Shorter football program as a player, a graduate assistant coach and as an assistant coach for the Hawks’ staff, and throughout it all the native of Newnan has remained passionate about taking the program to new heights on the defensive side of the ball.
After serving as the Hawks’ outside linebackers coach for two seasons (2010-11), Smith begins his second year as the team’s defensive line coach where he helped guide the Hawks who battle in the trenches into one of the top units in the Gulf South Conference.
Last season, Smith and his players played a huge role in helping Shorter’s defense end the year as the GSC’s second-best team defending against the run, allowing foes an average of just 136 yards on the ground a game. In addition, the defensive line helped allow the Hawks to create havoc in the backfield of foes where Shorter recorded 26 sacks and 79 tackles for losses.
A native of Newnan who was a star at East Coweta High, Smith began his playing career at Presbyterian College from 2002-04 where he was a two-year starter and was named the Defensive Freshman of the Year.
In 2006, Smith transferred to Shorter College but saw his playing time on the field come to an end due to a career-ending injury, but quickly turned his attention to becoming a coach on the sideline. While he was working to attain his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations in 2008, Smith served as a student assistant coach along the defensive line and as he completed his master’s degree he was a graduate assistant coach.
In addition to serving as the Hawks’ defensive line coach, Smith is also the team’s Equipment Coordinator.
