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EASLEY—In two years, 26 games have been played. Out of those 26 games, there have been 20 victories.

Easley High School’s Chad Smith has set the bar high going into his third season as head football coach of the Green Wave but is confident with his team and program.

“We’re at the point with our program now, it being our third year, where our schemes are in place. The kids understand our offense and defense, so now it’s more about plugging them into the right situation to allow them to be successful,” said Smith.

Coach Smith played his High School Football for the Blue Flame in Pickens where he graduated in 1997. During his senior year, current head football coach Chad Seaborn, served as a defensive backs coach.

“I have a lot of respect for Chad Seaborn. He is a great man, and most of the guys on that staff I grew up with or they grew up coaching me. It’s a special relationship there and you try to go into it as a friendly rivalry as much as you can because you don’t want to lose friendships over a game, but at the same time, my responsibility is the city of Easley and to do everything we can to win, so that’s what we are going to do,” Said Smith.

Smith attended Concord University in Athens, West Virginia where he played Center on the University’s football team.

After college, he was offered his first coaching position at West Montgomery High School in Troy, North Carolina as the offensive line and strength coach.

In 2003, Rocky Mount High School in North Carolina hired Smith as the assistant head coach, and during his four years at Rocky Mount, the football team earned a win-loss record of 43-10.

Following a stint at Northern Nash High School in North Carolina, Coach Smith was hired as the strength coach at Easley High School in 2009, but was soon moved to head football coach the next year by Athletic Director, Chris Carter.

Carter expressed his endorsement of Coach Smith and the success of his first two years at Easley.

“It is a testament to his ability to relate to the kids and his tremendous work ethic. We are fortunate to have him, he is an old school coach,” said Carter.

The expectations are high for the upcoming season but Coach Smith realizes the many variables in the game of football and how they can have an impact to the performances on the field.

“Barring injury, we could have a very special year. We are going to have to stay healthy, but as long as we do that, we should be okay,” said Smith.

The season opens Friday, August 17th at Pickens.