Chuck Smith (American football coach)

Chuck Smith (born December 21, 1957) is a former American football coach. Smith served as the head coach at Boyle County High School, Campbellsville High School, and Allen County Scottsville High School. Smith also served as linebackers coach at the University of Kentucky.[7] At Boyle County, Smith won six state championships and a KHSAA record breaking five in a row from 1999 to 2003.[8] Smith is highly regarded as one of the best football coaches in Kentucky high school football history.[1]

Chuck Smith
Smith Coaching at Boyle County
Biographical details
Born (1957-12-21) December 21, 1957
Louisville, Kentucky
EducationJeffersontown High School, University of Kentucky
Occupation(s)High school and college football coach
Years active1983–2019
SpouseJackie Smith
Children2
Playing career
1978–1980Kentucky
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1986Mercer County High School (KY) (assistant)
1987Allen County Scottsville HS (KY)
1988–1991Campbellsville HS (KY)
1992–2004Boyle County HS (KY)
2005–2012Kentucky (LB)
2013Bardstown HS (KY) (DC)[1]
2014–2019Boyle County HS (KY)
Head coaching record
Overall234–69[2]
Bowls6–2
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • 6 KHSAA state (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2017)[3]
Awards
  • 5x Courier-Journal Coach of the Year (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2019)[4]
  • NFHS Coach of the Year (2003)[5]
  • Kentucky Football Coaches Association 4A coach of the year (2019)[6]

Early life and education

Smith was born on December 21, 1957[4] in Louisville, Kentucky.[9] He was an all-state linebacker at Jeffersontown High School,[9] graduating in 1977.[4] He was a linebacker for the University of Kentucky from 1978 to 1980.[9]

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Smith as the head coach at Campbellsville High School

Shortly after Smith's playing career at Kentucky, Smith began his coaching career at Mercer county High School as an assistant under long-time coach Larry French. After three years with the Scotties, Smith accepted the head coaching job at Allen County Scottsville High School having a 6–5 season. After one year with the Patriots, Smith accepted the head coaching job at Campbellsville High School[9] leading to a turnaround for the Eagles football program.

Boyle County

After revitalizing Campbellsville's football program, Smith accepted the head coaching job at Boyle County High School. Prior to Smith's arrival at Boyle County, the Rebels had not had a winning season since 1986 when they went 7–4. Additionally, they had not had a ten win season since 1976. During the 1992 season, Smith's first Rebels team went 7–4 snapping a 6-year losing record streak. Three years later, Smith's Rebels went 10–3, their first ten win season in 19 years. Four years later Smith has the first undefeated 15–0 season in Boyle County football history and won Boyle's first state championship in school history. From 1999 to 2003, Smith's Rebels won a then state record breaking five state championships in a row,[8] four of them being undefeated 15–0 seasons led by 2001 Kentucky Mr. Football winner Jeff Duggins[10] and future NFL tight end Jacob Tamme.

Kentucky

Danny Trevathan, who Smith coached at Kentucky

Following an incredible run at Boyle County, Smith accepted his dream job, coaching linebackers at Kentucky. Under head coaches Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips, Smith coached four first team All-SEC linebackers. Those names include Super Bowl 50 champion Danny Trevathan, Wesley Woodyard, Micah Johnson, and Sam Maxwell.

Return to Boyle County

After leaving Kentucky, Smith had a one-year stint as defensive coordinator at Bardstown High School. In 2014, Smith accepted the head coaching job at Madison Central High School.[11] However, that was short-lived because less than three weeks later Smith resigned. Following Smith's resignation from Madison Central, Smith returned to head coaching at Boyle County due to the departure of former Boyle head coach Larry French.[12] During Smith's second tenure with the Rebels, he compiled a record of 69–12 with one state championship title.

Head coaching record

Below is a year-by-year breakdown of Smith's coaching record.

Year Team Overall Bowl/playoffs Litkenhous# MaxPreps°
Allen County Scottsville (Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)) (1987)
1987 Allen County Scottsville 6–5
Allen County Scottsville: 6-5
Boyle County Rebels (Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)) (1992–2004)
1992 Boyle County 7–4
1993 Boyle County 2–8
1994 Boyle County 9–4
1995 Boyle County 10–3
1996 Boyle County 11–3
1997 Boyle County 11–1
1998 Boyle County 7–5L 2nd round of KHSAA 2A playoffs to Lexington Catholic 28–13.
1999 Boyle County 15–0W KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
2000 Boyle County 15–0W KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
2001 Boyle County 15–0W KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
2002 Boyle County 13–2W KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
2003 Boyle County 15–0W KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl
2004 Boyle County 13–2L KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl3
Boyle County Rebels (Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)) (2014–2019)
2014 Boyle County 11–2L 3rd round of KHSAA 4A playoffs to Lexington Catholic 40–35.36
2015 Boyle County 10–2L 2nd round of KHSAA 3A playoffs to Central 27–14.1020
2016 Boyle County 7–5L 2nd round of KHSAA 3A playoffs to Central 37–6.52
2017 Boyle County 14–1W 3A KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl22
2018 Boyle County 13–1L 3A State Semifinals 21–0 to Corbin913
2019 Boyle County 14–1L 4A KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl5
Boyle County: 212–44
Total:212–44
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Personal life

Smith is married to Jackie Smith.[9]

Smith has two children, Brandon and Nicole. Brandon is the head coach at South Warren High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he has won two KHSAA state championships.[13]

Notable players coached by Chuck Smith

Boyle County

Future NFL tight end Jacob Tamme playing for Boyle County High School.

Kentucky

Former Kentucky linebacker Wesley Woodyard.

References

  1. Zubaty, Peter W. (January 23, 2014). "FOOTBALL: A well-respected man". The Kentucky Standard. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018.
  2. "KHSAA Top Kentucky Football Coaching Wins List" (PDF). KHSAA. January 13, 2021.
  3. "Past KHSAA State Football Champions" (PDF). KHSAA. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. Frakes, Jason (December 20, 2019). "Before he retires, Boyle County's Chuck Smith picks up one more coach of the year honor". The Courier-Journal.
  5. "Coach Awards". National Federation of State High School Associations. January 21, 2021.
  6. "KFCA Awards". Kentucky High School Coaches Association (www.khsca.net). January 21, 2021.
  7. "UK hires ex-Boyle County coach to head LBs". Kentucky New Era. Lexington. Associated Press. December 22, 2004.
  8. "The legacy of the 1999–2003 Champion Rebels". Harrodsburg Herald. August 19, 2020.
  9. "Chuck Smith Joins UK Football Staff". University of Kentucky Athletics (Press release). December 21, 2004.
  10. "Kentucky's Mr. Football". Kentucky Football Coaches Association. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  11. "Central introduces Chuck Smith as new football coach". Richmond Register. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  12. "BOYLE COUNTY & CHUCK SMITH A CHAMPIONSHIP COMBO". KHSAA. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  13. Overing, Matt (November 21, 2018). "A winning family tradition: Father/Son duo Chuck and Brandon Smith leading undefeated seasons". The Advocate-Messenger.
  14. Tamme, Jacob (April 6, 2016). "Wildcat at Heart". The Players' Tribune.
  15. Overing, Matt (November 29, 2017). "Boyle County alum Neal Brown living large at Troy". The Advocate-Messenger.
  16. Leedy, Nancy (May 17, 2018). "Leffew resigns as LCHS football coach". The Interior Journal (theinteriorjournal.com).
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