Rockwall searches for AD before coach

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Dec. 11: Rockwall ISD is looking for a full-time Athletic Director to replace AD/HC Scott Smith. Rockwall has combined the AD/HC positions in the past but are looking for a fulltime AD who who will then look for a Rockwall head coach. Rockwall officials expect to have an athletic director by the end of January. Using an outside search firm for preliminary rounds.

Smith Named at Houston Baptist Dec. 5 _ The startup Houston Baptist University football program has hired Scott Smith as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Vic Shealy announced Wednesday.
 
“I've had the honor of knowing Scott for quite some time and he's a great coach and a great man,” Shealy said. “Our offense will be in tremendously talented hands, so our student-athletes will be coached and cared for by a person who will allow them to enjoy the game and success in all areas, not just football.”
 
“I'm really excited about coming to HBU and helping start up a football program,” Smith said. “I've been in Texas all my life, except for one year, so I appreciate the opportunity to stay in the state and the game as we know it here in Texas.
 
Smith, 54, was a four-year letterwinner at Baylor from 1977-81. During his freshman season, he went 3-0 as a quarterback, then redshirted the following year. He played strong safety from 1979-81 as the Bears appeared in the 1979 Peach Bowl, then won the 1980 Southwest Conference championship and appeared in the 1981 Cotton Bowl.

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Nov. 29 _ Rockwall football coach Scott Smith has resigned as Rockwall head coach and Rockwall ISD athletic director according to a district announcement. Smith, who has a been a successful high school, college player and coach, could be headed for a college football assignment.

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Smith declined to elaborate on his plans. Rockwall defensive coordinator Chris Patton will serve as Rockwall's interim head coach. Smith officially will leave the school district Dec. 31. Smith told his players at a 3 p.m. Thursday meeting.

"Being the AD, you evaluate every program every year and I felt there needed to be a change," Smith said. "And when I looked at the AD role, I didn't want to just do that. I've got some coaching to do. It's what I love to do. I think the district needs to look at the dual role and see what direction they want to go in."

A graduate of Highland Park, Smith played at Baylor under Grant Teaff. Smith is one of the most respected coaches in the Texas High School Coaches Association and has strong relationships with every college coaching staff, including Art Briles at Baylor.

Rockwall went 2-8 this season.Smith has been at Rockwall since 2005. He was named athletic director in 2009. Rockwall has a 33-40 in his seven seasons, with three playoff berths but no playoff wins. Rockwall moved into District 12-5A this past season but relied on sophomore standout RB Chris Warren and WR/QB Xavier Castille and freshman linebacker Luke Termin. As Rockwall's enrollment gains after the opening of Rockwall-Heath, Rockwall likely will gain strength as a program. When Smith arrived from Odessa Permian in '05, Rockwall hadn't made the playoffs since 1994.

Rockwall-Heath coach Mickey Moss said he didn't know how the school district would replace the two positions, but Moss said he'd likely just remain coach at Heath.

Smith had been head coach at Highland Park, Duncanville and Garland before becoming as assistant at Baylor under former Bears coach Kevin Steele. Smith (99-75-2 career HC mark) took over for T.J. Mills at Permian.

He also had a part in the movie 'Friday Night Lights,' playing an assistant coach at Permian.