Brian Smith named Director of Soccer at C of I
Brian Smith Named C of I Women's Soccer Coach
CALDWELL, Idaho - College of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly has announced today that Brian Smith has been named Director of Soccer at the College and will assume the head coaching duties of the women’s soccer program.
Smith, who has been the Coyote men’s head coach since 2004, replaces Niki Taylor, who resigned in February to assume a coaching position with the Emerald City FC of the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Taylor led the Lady Yotes to the postseason in each of her six seasons as head coach, leaving with the most wins of any coach in program history.
“I am excited to take on this new challenge,” said Smith, who takes a 78-54-10 record into his ninth season with the men’s team. “Both the men’s and women’s teams have a strong core group returning and a quality recruiting class – it should be an exciting year for Coyote soccer.”
The Boise native, who was named Cascade Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008, and 2010, has had success coaching the women's game in the past – leading Timberline High to back-to-back Top-5 finishes in the 5A state tournament in 2002 and 2003, along with a successful record in the club ranks at FC Nova.
“Niki Taylor elevated our women’s soccer program to a new level, unlike anything the College has ever seen,” said Holly. “I am confident that Brian Smith will be able to continue to have the success he’s head with the men’s program, along with catapulting the women’s team to the next level.
It is not the first time the Coyotes have had Director of Soccer coaching both programs, as John Calpin led both the men’s and women’s teams during the 1989 and 1990 season. The C of I becomes the third school in the CCC with a head coach handling both programs – joining Northwest Christian and Oregon Tech.
Both teams open up the 2012 season in mid-August with a scrimmage against Treasure Valley CC.