Tim Smith, Leander High School’s head football coach and athletic coordinator, came to Texas by way of Illinois and said he has always had a love for football. After playing quarterback for Iowa Wesleyan University, Smith decided to pursue a career in coaching.
When did football become a part of your life? It seems like it’s always been a part of my life. I would go to the high school games when I was in elementary school. All my friends would run around. I watched the game [and] asked questions about the players. Growing up in the Midwest it was the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football.
Describe your experience as a football player. I played quarterback for [Head Coach] Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan. One of our assistants at that time was Mike Leach. Both have had a great influence on my career. I graduated from Iowa in 1990. I have a Bachelor of Arts in education and physical education, health and speech certifications.
What did you do after college? I packed my 1987 Escort with everything I owned and drove to Texas. Mark Coley was the head coach at New Caney [Middle School in Porter, Texas]. He gave me a job coaching at the junior high school. I coached eighth-grade football, freshman basketball and junior varsity baseball.
When did you decide to become a football coach? I remember being in the seventh grade. The head basketball coach at our high school lived [near] me. He would give me rides home. I would ask him questions about teams he had. One day he was telling me a story about a team, [and] he said, “You listen to me: You might be a coach one day.” So, here I am.
What was your first coaching gig? The very first actual paid coaching gig was coaching seventh- and eighth-grade B team girls’ basketball. I knew the principal and the head girls’ coach that gave me the job. They told me to treat the girls just like you would treat a boy—maybe the worse advice ever. Well, the first day, I yelled at some poor girl for missing a screen or a block out, she started crying [and] in between tears she screamed at me she was trying the best she could.
Do you have children in LISD schools? Both graduated from Cedar Park High School. My son played tight end at Cedar Park and Sam Houston State [University], and now he is coaching for Coach [Joshua] Mann at Rouse High School. My daughter is a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio and is studying to be a coach and English teacher.
What has football taught you? What football has taught me is: It all makes a difference. How you work, how you study, how you prepare, how you treat people—it all makes a difference. You do things right, and you can make a difference in your life and many others.
How do you and your team prepare for a successful football season? Preparation starts the day after your last game the season before. The product fans see on Friday night is a lot of hard work by players, coaches, trainers and teachers. It is a very long process, and it is very demanding. Strength and speed training goes year-round as well as skill development. We encourage all our football players to play and excel in other sports.
What is your favorite part about football? That’s easy. It’s the people—the players, the coaches. I have met some amazing men that have had huge impact on my life and career. We have some unbelievable teachers here at Leander. ... It’s an honor to work at Leander ISD and The Leander High School.
