SMITH NAMED C-L HEAD FOOTBALL COACH THREE DAYS AFTER PRACTICE STARTS

STRATTANVILLE – Three days after the start of football camp, the defending District 9 Class A champions, Clarion-Limestone, have a new coach.

Assistant coach Todd Smith, who has also been the head basketball coach, was named head football coach at the Aug. 13 school board meeting. He replaces John Kundick, who stepped down just before camp started. Kundick will remain with the team as an assistant coach.

"John approached me about two weeks and asked me if I wanted to take over," Smith said. "After talking with my family about it, we decided it was the best thing for all involved, and the best thing for the football program."

Kundick said a couple of things went into his decision to turn the head coaching reigns over to Smith.

"Last year Todd didn’t think he could continue coaching two sports with his family and all," Kundick said. "I totally understand that. I told him it would be a shame if he gave up football. When he said this year he was leaning toward football, I thought at that point I would really want to turn the position over to him. So I approached him. He never approached me. I think I shocked him. It was so quick. Last year I didn’t feel right being given a lot of the credit when Todd and the other coaches were doing a majority of the work. This is why I approached him about. I also think it is best for the program now and in the future."

Smith, a 1990 Clarion-Limestone graduate, as been either a head coach or an assistant coach with the Lions junior high or varsity program since 1992. He was a volunteer assistant junior high coach in 1992, head junior high coach in 1993 and an assistant coach at the varsity level since 1994. He spent eight years as an assistant coach under former head coach Clyde Conti, who depending on who you talk to was either fired or resigned following the 2001 season. Smith then was unofficially the associate head coach for the Lions last season helping C-L to a 12-1 record, both the KSAC and District 9 titles and to the second round of the PIAA playoffs. In all, the Lions have gone 63-28 with Smith as an assistant coach.

"I learned a lot from Clyde Conti," Smith said. "He is a good friend, and I have a lot of respect for him as a football coach. He is very knowledgeable about the game of football, and he has taught me a lot."

With Conti still teaching at C-L last year after getting the head coaching position at Slippery Rock, Smith believed it would have been very awkward for him to have stepped right into the head coaches position. This year Conti is teaching at Slippery Rock.

"I didn’t want the job last year," Smith said. "I think with Clyde gone from the team but still in the school, things would have been very awkward. There were also other factors that played in to things. But I think everything happens for a reason, and the Lord looked after me last year and things went the way they were suppose to go."

Under Kundick, who was more of an administrator than Conti, Smith was given a great deal of responsibility in play calling and other football related matters.

"People can say what they want about John," Smith said. "But he cares about the kids, and he cares about what is best for program. I believe he made the decision (to step down) based on what he thought was best for the future and for right now."

Smith said he is very glad Kundick has decided to stay on as an assistant coach.

"John will be a key communicator and sounding board for us," Smith said. "He is very good with the kids, and they really like him. He understands the importance of his role, and everyone enjoys having him around. We are very glad he has decided to stay with us."

Kundick believes he has a lot he can still offer the players and the team.

"We are really fortunate that we have a really good staff," Kundick said. "Everyone has their strengths, and there is a place for everyone. I think that it is important that things don’t change very much for the kids this year. About the only thing that is really changing is our titles. Other than that, the kids seem to be approaching us the same."

Smith said the transition might seem to come at a strange time to some people, but that the players will be the ones least effected by it.

"We knew about this before practice started," Smith said. "So we have just gone into the season with me taking the head coach’s responsibilities. The important thing is most of our staff is back from last year with the only difference being my brother Bill is now a volunteer assistant after being defensive coordinator last year and Jim Williamson is back. (Williamson coached at C-L for many years before joining Conti at Slippery Rock last season."

Smith said he will continue to call the offensive plays for the Lions with help from assistant coach Eric Christy, while Williamson will call the defensive plays.

"I like to give a lot of responsibility to my assistant coaches," Smith said. "I like to have them do a lot of the coaching. I think it is important for both them and myself. They are a vital asset to me."

Smith is no stranger to being a head coach having served as the head coach for the Lions boys’ basketball team the past seven seasons. That could change this year, as the school board expected his resignation and will open the position. But Smith might still stay the coach if no candidates are found.

"I don’t really want to comment on that," Smith said. "Things will work out the way they are meant to work out. The most important thing is that I have a wife and a family that will support me no matter what I end up coaching. My wife has been behind me 100 percent. I can’t tell you how important that is, and I have three great kids. No matter if we win or lose, when I come home I am still a hero to them."