Wake Forest-Rolesville coach Earl Smith watches his team against Jack Britt during an NCHSAA regional final in Fayetteville, N.C., on December 5, 2008. Jack Britt won 27-16. (Photo by Grant Halverson)
Apr 14, 2009
WAKE FOREST — Wake Forest-Rolesville head football coach Earl Smith will not return next season.
Wake County Public School System senior director of athletics Bobby Guthrie told HighSchoolOT.com Tuesday afternoon that he spoke with Smith on Monday, and that Smith has already found another job outside of education and coaching.
Attempts to reach Smith Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.
WCPSS announced earlier this year that they would not renew all of the contracts that terminate at the end of the current school year. Smith's contract ends at the end of the school year
Smith, 54, has been the head coach at Wake Forest-Rolesville for five seasons. He compiled a 48-20 record and won three straight conference titles. Last season, Smith led the Cougars to the N.C. High School Athletic Association's 4-AA regional final.
Smith's coaching legacy started at Ledford before he moved to Millbrook. While at Millbrook, Smith compiled a 188-75-1 record, then left the county to coach at New Hanover.
Wake Forest-Rolesville hired Smith in time for the 2004 season. In his five seasons with the Cougars, Smith compiled a 48-20 record.
“The thing I’ve always thought about Earl was that he always did things the right way, his team did things the right way," Guthrie said. "They were fundamentally sound, they were a team, they played together, and you never heard about sportsmanship issues. You didn’t have to worry about that with this football team.”
In his time at Millbrook, Smith coached a lot of football players, and one of those players was Clarence Inscore - the current head coach at Millbrook. Inscore played for and coached with Smith at the school.
“I think it’s a big loss for high school football, that’s for sure. He’s made a difference in a lot people’s lives, and you always hate to lose somebody like that," Inscore said.
Over the course of the last two seasons, Millbrook and Wake Forest-Rolesville have developed a sort of rivalry. The two teams competed for the Cap Seven Conference title, and one of the big story lines was always the connection between the two head coaches.
“You try to separate the personal side of things," said Inscore. "Coach Smith and I have never stepped out on the field and played against each other. It was always about Millbrook and Wake Forest-Rolesville, not Coach Smith and myself."
Guthrie told HighSchoolOT.com last month that schools may not be allowed to hire new coaches. There is a system wide hiring freeze in place until at least June 30.
“You want to think on the bright side as much as possible, but the fact is, nothing has changed since this has come out," Guthrie said about the economic situation on Tuesday.
Guthrie said he has not seen anything like the current situation in the time he has spent as the county's athletic director.
“There’s certainly a chance we’re going to lose good coaches and teachers," said Guthrie. "You’re talking about people who have been doing this for a long period of time, and that are good at what they do.”
There is no word on who may take over as the head coach at Wake Forest-Rolesville. WCPSS is in a hiring freeze until at least June 30, and Guthrie said they likely won't know much more until July.
Football season begins Aug. 1.
Stay tuned to HighSchoolOT.com for more information.
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