Montgomery Academy hires former Alabama State soccer coach

Montgomery Academy has hired Jodie Smith as the Eagles’ varsity girls soccer head coach.

Montgomery Academy has hired Jodie Smith as the Eagles' varsity girls soccer head coach.

The Montgomery Academy’s Athletic Director, Wright Ward, has announced the appointment of Jodie Smith as the new Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Soccer program. Coach Smith brings decades of experience and an impressive record of success at the collegiate level, most recently serving nineteen years as Head Coach at Alabama State University. (Smith retired from the position in January.)

During his tenure with the Hornets, Coach Smith led the program to three SWAC Conference Championships, four regular season titles, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He retired as the winningest coach in SWAC history, a testament to his leadership and competitive excellence.

Prior to his time at Alabama State, Coach Smith served as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at both Mercer University and Georgia State University, guiding both programs to postseason success. A native of Louisiana, he earned his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Upon his appointment, Coach Smith expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity: “I am thrilled to be named the Girls Varsity Soccer Coach at Montgomery Academy! Having lived in Montgomery for many years, I am very aware of both the outstanding academic curriculum as well as the Championship pedigree of the Girls Varsity Soccer program. I want to thank Athletic Director Wright Ward for his belief in me and the opportunity. My wife Tracy and I are excited to be a part of the Montgomery Academy community and are looking forward to the start of the school year and supporting MA Athletics.”

Wright Ward, Montgomery Academy’s Athletic Director, shared his excitement about the hire: “To get someone of Coach Smith’s caliber and character—a coach who has done it all and seen it all—is a blessing. We’ve been fortunate to have some outstanding coaches over the years, and now we’re excited to build on that tradition with a sense of long-term stability. From day one, Coach Smith made it clear that he and his wife, Tracy, are committed to the Montgomery area and genuinely love being part of this community. So, when you combine that with the wealth of knowledge he brings and the connections that he is dedicated to forming, I think it’s going to be a great partnership.”

(Press release from Montgomery Academy.)