Del Smith, here coaching the Blue Ridge School Barons in Virginia, has resigned as Ravenwood's head football coach.

Whitlock: ‘We’re moving forward’ with search
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Ravenwood High School is again in search of a head football coach. Athletic Director Patrick Whitlock confirmed to Brentwood Home Page Thursday that Del Smith had resigned on Tuesday.

Smith had visited the Wilson Pike campus several times since his appointment was announced earlier this year, Whitlock said. He officially moved to Tennessee from Virginia a week ago and had started spring workouts with his new players.

Smith resigned “due to reasons beyond his control,” Whitlock said. He said he could not comment further.

“We’re moving forward,” Whitlock said, noting that “all hands are on deck” as far as finding a new coach. Whitlock, RHS principal Dr. Pam Vaden and Williamson County Schools’ central office staff will be working together on the search that he said is already under way.

Whitlock said several candidates have already been identified; some who were in the mix before Smith was hired as well as others.

Vaden announced Smith's hiring on Jan. 19. The 2009-10 Virginia Independent Conference and Old Dominion Football Conference 2009-10 Coach of the Year had led the private Blue Ridge School near Charlottesville, Va. to their first state championship appearance in over 15 years.

Smith replaced Tom Shuman, who served as Ravenwood’s head coach for two seasons before resigning immediately after the 2010 regular season ended. The Raptors won the TSSAA 5A state championship in football in 2005 and were runners-up the following year. The past two seasons ended with disappointing records of 5-5 and 3-7 respectively.