When the Cardinals suit up for the 2007 season, they will be led by a familiar face.

Trinity Valley Community College administrators announced Thursday Brad Smiley has been hired as the new head football coach. This will be Smiley’s second time on the Cardinal coaching staff. He served as the offensive line coach in 1998 and 1999, working under then head coach Scotty Conley.

TVCC Athletic Director Michael Landers said Smiley’s passion for the game and his extensive experience made him stand out from the 25 other applicants.

“He’s just got such a passion for coaching and a talent for molding young players’ minds,” said Landers. “He really wants to be a part of TVCC and this community.

“Also, he’s been involved with coaching not only at the junior college level, but with low- and high-level Division I schools.”

Smiley is set to arrive on campus this weekend and a meeting with the football players and staff will take place early next week.

Smiley is replacing former head football coach Mark Sartain, who announced in December he would be departing TVCC to become the head football coach at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall.

Smiley said he’s looking forward to taking his first head coaching position and to returning to Athens.

“To move to a community the size of Athens and be a part of a small community is what me, my wife and my children need,” said Smiley. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to become a head coach at a place that has a great tradition, recent success and great facilities.”

Smiley, born in Commerce, graduated from Natchitoches High School in Natchitoches, La., before earning his Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Baylor University in Waco, where he served as a student assistant coach for the Bears.

He then returned to Natchitoches to earn his Master’s of Education from Northwestern State University. At Northwestern, he served as a graduate assistant, coaching tight ends. He was part of the 1997 Southland Football Conference championship team. The Demons also advanced that year to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

While on staff at TVCC, Smiley helped coach the 1999 Southwestern Junior College football conference and Red River Bowl championship team. The offense led the league in rushing in 1998 and 1999 and ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing both seasons. Smiley coached seven all-conference players and two All-Americans at TVCC.

Smiley left the Cardinals to become a graduate assistant at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. In his seventh year as a member of the Tulane coaching staff, Smiley is in his second season as the Green Wave’s recruiting coordinator. Smiley has also coached the Green Wave tight ends for the past five seasons.

In addition to coaching the tight ends and serving as recruiting coordinator, Smiley has also assisted in coaching the fullbacks, worked with the offensive line and been in charge of several of the Green Wave special teams units.

While Smiley has been at Tulane, the offense produced the college’s all-time leading passer, leading scorer and leading rusher as well as several all-time leading receivers. The team also won the Con Agra Foods Hawaii Bowl in 2002.

Smiley also has several years of teaching experience in conditioning and weight training, first aid and safety, sports officiating and other sports-related fields.

Smiley is married to Janna Clary Smiley and has two children, Benjamin Andrew, 3, and Clary Ann, 15 months.

Landers said that Smiley and the rest of the coaching team will need to move quickly on recruiting players, since the national day of signing is set for early February.

“He’s coming during the middle of the year, but it’s the perfect time for a football staff because they are in the middle of recruiting,” said Landers. “He and his staff will really have to hit the ground running.

“I’m confident they will get the job done and bring the quality players we need. One of his strengths is his ability to build relationships with coaches and players.”

Smiley said since he first talked to Landers about applying for the job a month ago, he’s had recruitment on his mind.

“While I’ve been at Tulane, Dallas and Fort Worth has been my recruiting area. I’ve already talked to several coaches and have a list of players I need to go after,” said Smiley.

Smiley said he believes his recruiting ties will be a great asset in his new position.

“I already have a plan of attack. With the level of athletes we’re looking for, it’s good to have contacts who have put me in touch with the players I need,” said Smiley. “I know what it takes to get those guys to come in, be successful and move on. I want them to feel proud that they carry the Trinity Valley name with them.”

“I look forward to running a program that the faculty, staff and administration of Trinity Valley and the community of Athens will be proud of.”