Sep 7, 2016 By Chelsey Withers for The Yellow Jacket 3 min read

The Waynesburg University football team has brought in a new offensive coordinator for the 2016 season. Chris Smithley, a graduate of Waynesburg University, has returned to serve as an assistant coach for the Yellow Jackets.

Coming back to the school, Smithley said the change went smoothly, due, in part, to knowing most of the staff.

“The transition has been great,” said Smithley. “I have worked with these guys before, I played here, I played under this staff and then I came back and coached here for three years before leaving, so it was a smooth transition coming back into it.”

During the three years Smithley spent as a coach before leaving, he worked with the defensive linemen for two years under head coach Rick Shepas, while also coaching the team’s defensive backs for one season.

In 2012, Smithley went on to spend four years on the coaching staff of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference rival of Waynesburg, Washington & Jefferson.

Over his seven years on the sidelines, Smithley has coached three All-Americans, a national award finalist, five all-region selections and 27 All-PAC performers, 11 of which were first-team picks.

He has also helped mentor a combined 23 Players of the Week in the conference, regional and national levels.

According to Shepas, Waynesburg was attracted to Smithley before he even arrived at the school. Additionally, Shepas said that Smithley’s experience as both a former player and a coaching assistant gave him additional value to the team.

“We were attracted to Smithley before he got here. This is the best case scenario for us,” said Shepas. “It is always good to have different experiences. Him being here and having experience here as a player and a graduate assistant and then leaving gave him some perspective.”

Smithley’s playing career at Waynesburg included two years at quarterback prior to two seasons as a fullback/halfback. He enjoyed his most success on the field as a senior in 2008. That season, he finished third on the team with 23 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown.

This season, Smithley will conduct more of the running game for the Yellow Jackets, as new coach and former player Carter Hill will call more of the passing game.

“Smithley is our run offensive coordinator. He is dealing with a very young offensive line, and I think he is doing a very good job,” said sophomore quarterback Jake Dougherty. “He’s very knowledgeable when he gets on the board. He’s very X’s and O’s smart and knows how to draw stuff up. We also already have new plays going into this week against Westminster.”

The Yellow Jackets opened their season on Sept. 3 against Muskingum University. Waynesburg fell 17-16 in the season opener. Waynesburg will be back in action Saturday on the road against Westminster.