Sherrill Smith is entering his 11th season as head coach of the Midway University women’s soccer program in 2025-26.
In his time at the helm, Smith has led the Eagles to 54 victories. Smith has seen 17 players All-Conference honors from the River States, while he’s also seen 115 RSC Scholar-Athletes, and 61 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes.
The 2024 team had one of the most electrifying games in program history on Oct. 1. In a matchup against Alice Lloyd, the Eagles recorded the most goals (16), shots (77), goals in a half (11), assists (11) and players with a goal (10) in a game since at least 2008. Stars for the team were Evie Clare, who was second in the River States Conference in goals (18) and points (32), and Haylee Applegate, who had a conference-best 75 shots. As a team, the Eagles finished 24th in the country with 370 shots.
The most decorated of honors was 2020 RSC Player of the Year and RSC Offensive Player of the Year in Brynn Bradley. That same season season also saw Bradley earn NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors and Scholar All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches.
In 2021, Smith was selected as the 2020-21 River States Conference Coach of the Character Award winner. The award is given annually to a head coach who has been outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program using methods of teaching character through sport and in community leadership through volunteering or service.
Smith came to Midway in April 2015 after spending 30 years of coaching at the high school level in Kentucky. He spent 26 years as the head coach of the boys’ soccer program at Frankfort High School. During his tenure, Smith compiled 264 career victories en route to becoming one of the top-ten winningest coaches in Kentucky.
In 2014, he earned several coaching honors after a successful season. He received the Great Lakes Coach of the Year for small schools by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Kentucky High School Soccer Coaches Association (KHSSCA) Coach of the Year and the Central Kentucky Soccer Officials Association (CKSOA) Coach of the Year.
Smith was awarded the KHSSCA Coach of the Year award in 2005 and the Central Kentucky Soccer Conference Green Division Coach of the Year in 2006.
Smith also led Frankfort High School to two district championships, while finishing as district runner-up nine times and winning Central Kentucky Soccer Conference Green Division Coach of the Year honors twice (1997, 1998) during his tenure. His teams also advanced to the All “A” State Soccer Cup four times.
Smith has also coached rec and select soccer teams as well as high school boys’ and girls’ tennis, boys’ basketball, and baseball. He has had several players receive statewide awards and several others have gone on to successfully play soccer and tennis at the collegiate level.
In addition to coaching, Smith has experience in athletics administration. He was Commissioner of the Kentucky All “A” State Soccer Cup Tournament from 1999-2012, has served on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Soccer Committee and has worked with the NSCAA.
After a 33-year career in public education, Smith retired as the Assistant Superintendent for Frankfort Independent Schools in March 2015.
Smith and his wife, Ruth, reside in nearby Frankfort, Kentucky. They have four children and five grandchildren.
