Brad Smiley - Head Football Coach

In his 5th season at "The Valley", 2011 showed to be a very successful year for both Coach Smiley and the Cards, finishing 8-1 in the regular season, a #2 seed in the SWJCFC playoffs, a #7 national ranking, and a trip to the 2011 Citizens Bank Bowl.  The Cards also sported 4 NJCAA All-Americans, a conference high 13 players on the 1st or 2nd All-SWJCFC teams, and both the SWJCFC Offensive and Defensive MVP's.  It is the third consecutive year a Cardinal offensive player has won the award for either Conference MVP or Offensive MVP.  With a trip to the regional championship game in 2010 as well, Smiley feels the program is back at the top of the conference where they will compete year in and year out.  "Trinity Valley has one of the greatest traditions of junior college football in the country.  These past few seasons we have gotten back to where we belong, playing for championships!" 

 In 2010 the Cardinals boasted 2 NJCAA All-Americans, the SWJCFC's MVP as well as the leading rusher, leading scorer, leading passer, 3 of the top 5 leading receivers, leading tackler and the nation's 2nd leading kicker.  In his five seasons at the helm, Smiley has now had under his tutelage 8 NJCAA All-Americans, 4 SWJCFC MVP's, 38 All-Conference performers, 19 conference players of the week and 5 national players of the week.  The Cards have also had close to 90 players sign scholarships with 4-year universities, 46 of which have been with Division 1 programs.  Last spring's 2011 NFL draft hit home with the program as well as the New England Patriots drafted former Cardinal Malcolm Williams out of TCU.  Malcolm was an all conference performer at defensive back for Smiley in the 2008 and 2009 seasons.  Because of their efforts off the field, the Cardinal Football family was awarded the 2010 East Texas Team Community Service Award.  The award is annually given out by SPORTyler and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce to an East texas athletics team that has shown outstanding community service.  

Upon his arrival as head coach in 2007, Smiley was no stranger to Athens serving as the offensive line and tight ends coach, as well as recruiting coordinator in the 1998 and 1999 seasons under former head coach Scotty Conley.  He was a part of the 1999 SWJCFC Championship and 1999 Red River Bowl Championship teams.  His line helped pave the way for the conferences leading rushing attack both seasons as well as ranking top 5 nationally.  During his tenure at Trinity Valley, Smiley has been a part of 10 of the top 30 scoring games in school history, 7 as head coach.

Smiley came to Trinity Valley after spending 7 seasons coaching in New Orleans at Tulane University.  The majority of time he spent in the role of tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.  During his tenure at Tulane he was a part of an offensive staff that helped produce the university's all-time leading passer, leading scorer and leading rusher as well as several all-time leading receivers.  Also, offensively laying claim to 3 of Tulane’s top 5 seasons in total yardage and passing yardage.  While at Tulane he was a part of the team’s 2002 Hawaii Bowl Championship, 2005 Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award and 2005 Football Writers of America Association Courage Award.  

Smiley began his coaching career at his alma mater, Baylor University, as a student assistant in 1995.  While with the Bears he worked with the quarterbacks and kicking specialists.  He then moved to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana where he spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons coaching the team’s tight ends.   He was a part of the1997 Southland Football Conference Championship team helping NSU advance to the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA Championship playoffs.

Smiley is married to the former Janna Clary of Natchitoches, Louisiana and the couple has two children, Benjamin Andrew, 8 and Clary Ann, 6.