Smith, a 1984 graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State, began his coaching career as an assistant for the Durant freshman team in 1983. He served as a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma from 1990-92 before coming defensive coordinator at Wilburton High School.

Smith's first head coaching job in football came in 1993 at Little Axe, where he worked one year before becoming the defensive coordinator at Norman High. While there, the NHS defense was ranked No. 1 in 6A in 1996 and No. 3 in 1997.

In 1999, Smith took the head coaching and athletic director posts at Durant High School and was there until joining the Ardmore. The Ardmore defense was No. 1 in 5A in 2005 and No. 3 in 2003.

Smith also was guest speaker at the Oil Bowl All-Star Game and at the University of Oklahoma's Coach's Clinic in 2006.

Along the way, Smith also has coached power lifting, track, baseball and basketball.

As a player, Smith was on the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M national junior college championship team in 1980 and played at SOSU from 1982-84, where he also received his master's of education degree in 1986.