Legendary Leader - George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas

His heroes are old-school coaches like Paul “Bear” Bryant, Woody Hayes and Don Shula, and his disciplinarian style in many ways reflects an old-school coaching philosophy. But George Smith is not afraid to try something new if it will help give his football team an edge.

That’s what Smith, the head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, did two years ago when he decided to have his players do Pilates exercises as part of their off-season training program. That’s the same year that St. Thomas Aquinas went 15-0 and finished the season as the consensus number 1 ranked team in the nation.
“He’s very open to different ideas. He doesn’t get turned off by an idea that’s not traditional,” said Christy Cabrera Chirinos, a reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel whose beat has included covering St. Thomas Aquinas for the past eight years. That is one of several reasons why Smith has enjoyed so much success during his 33-year career steering the football program at Aquinas, compiling a record of 346-66 that includes 13 state championship game appearances and five state titles.

Last year, Aquinas was unbeaten and again ranked number 1 nationally before losing to Bradenton-Manatee in Florida’s Class 5A state semifinals. Smith admitted that a lofty national ranking can present some distractions for players, especially with all the message boards and internet chat rooms that are so popular today, but he does not think they are a bad thing. “The national ranking was a tremendous positive for our program,” he said. “It promotes your players, your school, your area, your state. That’s important.”

Asked to assess the reasons for his program’s continued success at Aquinas, Smith gave five critical factors:

Backing of the school’s administration - “You have to have the support from your school and I’ve been blessed with that,” said Smith, who is also the school’s athletic director. Smith added that Aquinas prides itself on high academic standards that carry over to its sports teams. “Education is extremely important. We were one of the first schools in Broward County to have computer classes. We offer some high-end stuff like design classes for Web sites.”

Complete backing of parents - Smith believes that the parents of student athletes play a pivotal role in helping to mold champions and he encourages moms and dads to be involved as much as possible – aside from second-guessing the head coach, of course. “Kids need moral support,” said Smith. “That never will change.”

Consistency of coaching staff - Smith has two coaches on his staff that have been with the program for over 30 years. “Seven of my varsity coaches played for me, so they know the system and what’s expected from that experience,” said Smith. “You have to have a lot of energy from coaches and we have that.” Chirinos said that Smith’s practices are geared toward attaining specific goals for the day and a reflection of how well-prepared his staff is. “He knows how to surround himself with good coaches.”

Smith learned a valuable lesson after his first year as head coach. His team finished 6-4 and Smith was getting his staff together for a post-season meeting to see which coaches were coming back the following year. “They all looked at me and said we’re not coming back because you did everything. You didn’t need us.” Since then, Smith has learned to trust his coaches and also how to delegate to them.

Dedicated athletes - Smith’s 2010 campaign opens up against national power Dallas Skyline in an ESPN game that’s part of the Kirk Herbstreit challenge. It will be their third straight season with a nationally-televised game. “This team we have in 2010, why are they going to Texas? It’s because of the success and reputation of teams before them,” Smith said. “Those teams set the tone. They laid the foundation for success and the exposure we receive today. I think it’s harder to continue to keep that tradition, and to do so, your players need to be dedicated to that goal.” Proof of that is the Thanksgiving Day practices – Smith’s teams almost always are still playing that time of the year - when numerous former players home from college stop by to watch the morning practice. “That says a lot about (Coach Smith) and they way they feel about him,” Chirinos said.

Smith believes that loyalty is a major factor in forming the dedicated athletes he coaches. “We teach loyalty as soon as players enter the program,” said Smith. “You have to teach loyalty. In today’s society most kids are focused on the quick fix, the instant gratification generation. It is a harder task, but you need to teach them that there’s no substitute for loyalty.”

Blessed with great human beings around you - Smith was named recipient of the 2008 Power of Influence Award, which is presented by the American Football Coaches Association. It annually honors a deserving high school football coach for his effect on his players, school and community. “This is an award that took many, many individuals,” Smith said after being named recipient of the award. “So many players have played here. Those are the people who this award is about. It would not be possible without them. One thing that’s run through the grain is that we’ve had a lot of great human beings that have played here. They’ve influenced me as much as I’ve influenced them.”

Smith demands respect, and it’s evident that he receives it from players past and present. Former Aquinas players such as Michael Irvin often call or stop by to see their former coach and repeatedly thank him for what they learned from him. And it’s not only about football. In fact, Smith is equally proud of former players who have gone on to be successful in professions other than football – engineers, a city manager and even one who is an FBI agent. “He’s tough, he’s gruff, but he really cares about the kids,” Chirinos said. “He talks about their character as much as their athletic skills.”
Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s grandsons have played for Smith. Former NFL wide receiver Cris Carter sent his son to Aquinas so he could play for Smith. He constantly keeps track of how his players are doing in school. “Education is extremely important.”

Smith acknowledges that the high school landscape has changed dramatically since he began coaching in the mid-1970s, especially with all the technology available to student-athletes, but Smith sincerely believes that some things remain constant. “People think kids have changed, but I don’t believe that,” Smith said. “They still want attention and want to be disciplined and coached. Things around them have changed. The problems they have, they’re the same.”

Smith is not a big believer in long, drawn-out practices. But every minute of a 90-minute practice is filled with efficiency and productivity. His practice format starts with a film segment on his next opponent or on the previous day’s practice. “From there, we stretch and work on an individual period,” said Smith. “We’ll work with the defensive linemen on pass rushing and we’ll have the defensive backs work on man coverage with the wide receivers. We’ll then work on tackling with drills involving the linebackers and running backs. Then we’ll start our competitive drills.” Chirinos said Smith’s program is run “almost like a college program,” another aspect that sets Smith apart from so many of his colleagues.

“They have a great facility and a great coaching staff,” said Coach Damon Cogdell of Class 6A state champion Miramar. Cogdell actually played against Aquinas and Coach Smith in high school and now faces him as a coach on the opposite sideline. “He’s a classy guy,” Cogdell said of Smith. “But when you play St. Thomas, you can’t play the name, you’ve got to play the game.”

Mike Morrill, the football coach and athletic director at Cardinal Gibbons High in Fort Lauderdale, describes Smith’s program at Aquinas as “a well-oiled machine” that can make others envious. “They set their standards high, and he’s the one constant,” Morrill said.

Asked what advice he would offer to aspiring coaches today, Smith’s response was straightforward. “Get a degree in education,” he said. “You have to be smart and you need to be able to teach and establish discipline.” Smith also said that he believes an aspiring coach should consider obtaining a degree in math, English or science today because those teaching jobs are more readily available than ones in physical education, a popular study for coaches in the past.

One other aspect of Smith’s program that has impressed Chirinos, the journalist, is how Smith’s players so often reflect about their coach and treat everyone with respect. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a St. Thomas player say anything stupid in an interview,” Chirinos said. “He’s taught them not to give opponents bulletin board material.”

With over 30 years and over 300 victories at a program that has produced NFL superstars and a National Championship, George Smith has earned a place among the all-time great high school coaches in America. While very few coaches will ever match his record, all will benefit by incorporating parts of his personal philosophy.