Smith joined the Heat ahead of the 2016-17 season following his time with the women's soccer program at Quest University.
The Scotland native has spent his career at UBCO transforming his team into a possession-focus squad and saw the results of that growth payoff with the program's first-ever appearance in the Canada West Quarter-finals during the 2023-24 season. The team also set a program record since joining the Canada West conference for wins in a season with eight in 2023-24.
During his time at Quest, he managed to gain Canada-wide recognition being the first Quest sports team to be ranked nationally. They were also the first Quest university sports team ever to win a trophy, winning bronze at the Provincial Championship. All of this was achieved in a university consisting of just 400 students. The team was also provincial runners up in 2013-2014.Â
Previously Smith had worked in Ottawa as head coach of the Ottawa Fury women’s team. They compete at the top end of the women’s game in North America (USL). In his three years at the Fury, the team won the league three times, the divisional title and made the final four in North America once. In the year the Fury made the North American Final Four (2009/10) Smith was named the North American Coach of the Year in the Women’s USL.
For 3 years in Ottawa, Smith worked with some of the best international players in the women’s game, where his success and ability to identify talent brought him to the attention of the national program.Â
After many discussions with John Herdman, Smith became a part of two national women’s soccer team programs. He was part of the New Zealand staff for their Cyprus Cup appearance in 2011, and he was involved in Team Canada’s build-up for London Olympics 2012 that won the bronze medal.
Smith has found a way to bring soccer to his other passion, working with children’s charities. The UBC Okanagan coach has volunteered for six-week to six-month stints in impoverished areas of Mexico and India. This work is a big part of his life, and he has also spent time coaching the children of orphanages and tribal girls in eastern India.
Qualifications
Â
Scottish Football Association  – Early Touches  2000
B.C Soccer – B Provincial Coaching Licence  2007
Canadian B National Coaching Licence   2008
2-time invitee women’s professional soccer league (Coaching combine)   2009/10
Field Turf North American W League Women's Coach of the Year   2009/10
PACWEST Coach of the Year  2015
UEFA B Licence (Ireland) Â Â April 2015
UEFA A Licence (Scotland) June 2016
Playing Career
7 years of professional experience as a player in both Scotland and Australia.
Coaching Record
| Year |
Overall |
League |
Playoff |
Season Finish |
Playoff Finish |
| GP |
W |
L |
 T |
% |
GP |
W |
L |
 T |
% |
GP |
W |
L |
% |
| 2023/24 |
15 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
.600 |
14 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
.643 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
3rd in CW Pacific Division |
Eliminated in CW Quarter-finals |
| 2022/23 |
14 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
.393 |
14 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
.393 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
6th in CW Pacific Division |
-- |
| 2021/22 |
12 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
.292 |
12 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
.292 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5th in CW West Division |
-- |
| 2020/21 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2019/20 |
14 |
 1 |
12Â |
1 |
.107 |
14 |
1 |
12Â |
1 |
.107Â |
-- |
 -- |
-- |
-- |
8th in CW Pacific Division |
-- |
| 2018/19 |
14 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
.286 |
14 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
.286 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7th in CW Pacific Division |
-- |
| 2017/18 |
14 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
.250 |
14 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
.250Â |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
8th in CW Pacific Division |
-- |
| Â 2016/17Â |
15 |
4 |
10 |
1 |
.395 |
14 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
.321Â |
1 |
0 |
 1 |
.000 |
6th in CW Pacific Division |
Eliminated in CW Play-in game |
| Total: |
98 |
24 |
59 |
15 |
.321 |
96 |
24 |
57 |
15 |
.328 |
2 |
 0 |
 2 |
 .000 |
