Shocking news came out of Hutchinson County Wednesday evening, when it was made official that veteran football coach Jeff Smith was leaving West Texas High and making his way back to the South Plains, being named the new athletic director and head football coach at Floydada High School.
Smith’s move is a stunning one on paper, but for him, it was the right one for he and his family, and where he is at this point of his coaching career.
“Floydada gave me a really good opportunity and an offer that was hard to turn down,” Smith said. “This is a great opportunity for my family and the location is perfect for us when it comes time for me to retire. We’ve always liked the South Plains, I’m closer to my kids and it’s a great fit. I loved Stinnett and I had planned on being there at least six years, but this was just the right time.”
Smith, a Dalhart graduate, is coming off his best season in 29 years of coaching. This past fall, Smith and the West Texas High Comanches, took the Stinnett community on a thrilling ride, giving WT High its best season in 30 years, going 14-0 before falling to Hamilton in the UIL Class 2A Division I state semifinals.
“I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished at West Texas High,” said Smith, who was 25-12 at West Texas the past three years. “The kids bought in to the system and that’s a testament to them. The way they prepared, the way they were consistent and the way they approached the coaching staff. Leaving that is very difficult for me, because it was such a special season. I love the community of Stinnett, and I couldn’t have asked for a better three years.”
Smith, who has had head coaching stops at Brownfield and Hale Center as well as WT High, is inheriting a Whirlwind team in the process of a major overhaul. This past year, Floydada had a very tough season, going 0-10.
“I’ve taken these kind of challenges before,” Smith said. “I always go in with the hopes for improvement. Sometimes success is different in everyone’s eyes. I know as coaches, it’s always about the wins and losses, but I love the process of watching young people get better every day. The goal for me is to keep preaching consistency. That’s being consistent in everything you do, whether that’s at practice, in the classroom or on game-day. Just always be consistent. When you do that, things take care of themselves. I also at this point in my career love making young men great human beings. I think that’s always the goal as a coach.”
