Former SMU Asst. Coach Scott Smith

[MrMustang1965]

ROCKWALL – Rockwall ISD hired Scott Smith, well-known in area football circles and most recently the coach at fabled Odessa Permian, as the new football coach/athletic coordinator at Rockwall High on Monday.

Smith received a two-year contract at $90,000 per year. He fills the job vacated by Mark Elam, who became the district's first full-time athletic director in December. Rockwall went 7-23 the last three years and has never made the playoffs in Class 5A.

Smith starred as quarterback/defensive back at Highland Park and played for Baylor. He has been head coach at Highland Park, Duncanville and Garland and was as an assistant at Baylor, SMU, North Texas and Arkansas.

"This was the right thing," he said. "It's exciting, and I'm going to jump in with both feet."

Elam said Smith wanted to move after losing his father last fall. Smith's mother lives in the Dallas area.

Smith took Garland and Duncanville to the playoffs. He later coached at Highland Park, guiding the Scots to the Class 4A semifinals in 1996.

Smith left Highland Park for Baylor in 1999 and moved on to the Permian job in 2003. Permian went 10-10 under Smith and didn't reach the playoffs. Permian, 4-6 this season, went winless in district play for the first time.

Smith appears in the movie Friday Night Lights as an assistant coach. He has two sons. Shea, completed his senior season at quarterback. Braden, a sophomore next season, also plays.