In his course of being a head coach on the soccer pitch for 33 years, Brad Smith has started three different programs from the ground up.

He will get a chance to help complete the construction of the Crowder College soccer program next, as he was recently hired as the school’s second head coach.

Smith is currently the head coach at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., where he will exit next week and start the new job at Crowder in July.

“There was a number of things that came into play about the job,” said Smith Thursday afternoon by phone. “I love the area of Southern Missouri and my wife used to live in Rogers (Ark.) which is very close. That is one of the things that came into consideration.
There was another part about starting the program. I have started three different programs and I love the start-up situation.”

Smith was hired to replace Roel Quiroz, who was the first coach, but resigned recently to pursue other opportunities.

Ironically, it was the old coach, which helped lead the new coach to Neosho.

“I just happened to be looking at the Juco (national) Web site when I saw it,” said Smith of the Crowder opening. “I wanted to know what was going on and why Roel was leaving so I called him and he was going to do a few things for himself.”

Quiroz played soccer for Smith at Sitanka University, which led to a bond between the two.

Quiroz left a roster of between 15 and 17 players, Smith noted, many of whom he has been in contact with since taking the job. He noted that almost all of the players have decided to stick with the program.

Among the list of players Smith has includes a trio from right in town in former Wildcats Cal Lane, James Carter and Collin Crawford, who will transfer from Stockton-Culver.

Crowder will get its first crack at soccer on August 15 with a scrimmage against Missouri Southern.

Smith is a native of New Jersey and attended college at East Carolina University. He secured a master’s degree from East Carolina and the University of Tennessee.

In 1974, Smith had the distinct honor of being the youngest Division I coach, when he took over the helm at his alma mater. In his 33 years of coaching, they have all been as head coach at the collegiate level.

He started the Westmar University program in Iowa, while starting both the Sitanka and Dakota Wesleyan soccer programs in South Dakota over the years.

Smith and his wife, Chrys, are the parents of 11-year-old Wyatt. The family will be in Neosho in early July looking for a place to live and hopefully relocate later in the month.