Chase Smith set to become Orange Beach’s first head football coach

Orange Beach, AL – Sources have confirmed to PrepsNet that current Robertsdale Bears coach Chase Smith has been tapped to be the first head football coach and athletic director at the new Orange Beach High School in Baldwin County.

In his first year as a head coach, Smith lead Robertsdale to a 2-8 record in 2018. Prior to his arrival, the 6A program had only won three contests in the previous three seasons.

A graduate of Birmingham’s Shades Valley High School, Smith began his coaching career with a one year stint at Hoover’s Spain Park High School before moving to Greenville to coach running backs. During his only season at GHS he helped lead the Tigers to 10-3 record and a quarterfinal appearance in the AHSAA 5A playoffs. The Jacksonville State alumni’s next assistant coaching stop was a four year stint at Baldwin County power Spanish Fort. During his time on Bryant Vincent’s Toro staff he worked with running backs in 2007, defensive linemen from 2008 to 2009 and the offensive line in 2010.  During his time on the Toro staff, SFHS put together a combined 39-13 record culminating with the state 5A championship in his final year with the program.  The Toros went 11-2 and advanced to the 5A state quarterfinals in 2008 and reached the state semifinals the following season before falling to the eventual state champion Demopolis Tigers 29-28.  Smith served as offensive coordinator in his final year with at SPHS, helping lead the Toro’s to a 13-2 mark and the program’s first state title.

In 2011 Smith entered the college ranks accepting a graduate assistant post on Joey Jones’ South Alabama Jaguars staff. During his time at USA he served as a graduate assistant, Director of Football Operations and held on-field positions coaching tight ends and offensive linemen.

The new Orange Beach High School won’t be finished until the fall of 2020 but Baldwin County Schools reportedly plans to house 7th through 10th grade students in portable classrooms beginning in 2019. Current 11th and 12th grade Gulf Shores High students, who live outside the city limits of Gulf Shores, will will be allowed to attend GSHS until graduation while rising sophomores will have the choice to remain at Gulf Shores or begin attending Orange Beach.