By Pat Culverhouse
New Glenbrook head football coach Reagan Smith has a simple philosophy.
“My coaching philosophy starts with relationships,” Smith told members of the Minden Lions Club. “I want to be the kind of coach I wish I had in school.”
Smith said he believes in teaching fundamentals and strategies his players find intelligent. He also believes strongly in explaining the “why” of everything from practice to game schemes, with focus on effort and attention to detail plus a positive attitude.
Smith, a 16-year coaching veteran, comes to Glenbrook with a resume of success at some recognizable powerhouse high school football programs. He has coached at West Monroe, Evangel, Parkway and Logansport where teams have won multiple state championships.
In addition to coaching number of players who have reached the Division 1 level in college, he has also coached nine players who have reached the NFL. He told Lions his career began under Hall of Fame Coach Don Shows of West Monroe, where he was part of the staff that led the school to a 15-0 record and a state championship.
Enroute to that championship game, Smith said he had the privilege to watch the best high school player he’s ever seen. In a 28-27 West Monroe win over St. Augustine in a semifinal game, future LSU All American and NFL star Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu gave the West Monroe team all it could handle.
Smith said this years Glenbrook team will have more numbers that usual, but will be lacking in experience.
“We have 40 on our varsity this year, and have 70 in our program grade seven through 12. I’m told this is the largest in school history,” he said. “We have 16 returning seniors, but not a ton of experience. We lost 95 percent of the yards, points and tackles from last year to graduation.
But, the coach added, this year’s Apaches team will have another trait that could pay dividends.
“We’re not as fast as last year, but his is the strongest team I’ve ever coached,” he said. “We knew we were losing a lot to graduation, which is to be expected, so we transitioned in November last year.”
Smith said he wants to see his players become winners, both on the football field and in their future.
“In football and in life, I want them to be successful, to be winners in whatever they do,” he said. “I want to be part of that. I like building things, teaching from the ground up.”