EASLEY – After three seasons in Easley, 29 wins and three playoff appearances, Easley High School’s head football coach, Chad Smith, is moving on.

“It was an awesome experience, and the City of Easley has a lot to be proud of. They embraced me, they embraced my family, and they made our stay with them extremely nice, it was awesome,” Smith said. “I don’t want me leaving to be an indicator of how I feel about Easley.”

Coach Smith will now offer his coaching expertise to the Clover Blue Eagles of Clover, SC.

“Clover is a one school district and there are certain things that a one school district can offer that others cannot. I feel like the Lord is moving us for a reason, and I think it is a great fit for me and my family,” Smith said. “I will always cherish the time I had in Easley, but now it is time to put that behind us and go get the Blue Eagles ready to play.”

According to Smith, taking over the reins of the Blue Eagles is not unlike taking over in Easley.

“It is a great opportunity and the situation is very similar to the Easley situation when I took over, but the obstacles will be a little more difficult because of the league they play in. Arguably, it is the best league in South Carolina in any classification,” Smith said. “It is a great place to raise a family and they are committed to providing anything a football coach can ask for.”

Smith said that he was excited to face the new challenges in Clover.

“The competitive challenge is going to be amazing. Luckily, I am either too confident or too stupid to think it can’t be done, so I am really looking forward to the challenges,” Smith said.

Easley High School officials expressed thanks in having worked with Smith for three years.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with Chad. He is a great young football coach but even a better person. We had three wonderful seasons under his leadership and it is hard to realize a future without him,” said Athletic Director, Chris Carter. “He is a dear friend and I will truly miss him.”

Easley High Principal, Dr. Tim Mullis, echoed the sentiments of Carter.

“We are saddened by the news that Chad Smith will be leaving Easley High School to accept a job at Clover High School. Chad has done a great job not only bringing excitement back to Easley High School football, but also building character in the young men that he has coached,” Mullis said. “He will be missed at Easley High School but we wish him continued success in his future.”

Coach Smith took time to address the community and student athletes of Easley.

“I want to say thank you for the last three and a half years. It has been a great ride. Thank you to the parents for bringing kids back and forth, thank you to the players for the blood sweat and tears, and thank you to the entire community for embracing me and my family,” Smith said. “It has been awesome, Easley will always be near and dear to my heart and I will cheer for them every time unless we are playing them.”

Smith played high school football at Pickens High School and played his college career at Concord University in West Virginia.

His coaching career began in North Carolina where he made a variety of coaching stops before coming to Easley in 2009.