Reagan Smith, head coach of the Glenbrook Apaches football team, spoke at the Lions Club meeting on August 22, emphasizing his relationship-focused coaching style. Smith, who has previously coached at West Monroe High School and Evangel High School, shared his commitment to being the type of coach he wished he had in school.
“I want to be someone who will take time to talk to every player, no matter their athletic abilities,” Smith said. “I want to motivate through praise as often as I can. I want to teach players fundamentals, skills, and strategies that they find intelligent.”
Despite losing several first-string players to graduation last year, Smith expressed pride in the upcoming team. The Glenbrook Apaches have 40 varsity players and a total of 70 players across grades 7-12, including 16 returning seniors.
“This is the strongest team I’ve ever coached,” Smith said. He added that his daily focus is on improvement, urging his players to identify and work on the three most pressing areas for growth.
Smith also discussed his emphasis on weight training, nutrition, and sleep to build stronger players. “The one thing that you can affect more dramatically in a football program than anything else is the level of strength in your team,” he noted.
Smith believes in the power of motivation through understanding. “The why is motivation,” he explained. “If I tell them why to make that block, they become a little more motivated. If I teach them how to make that block, they’re a little more empowered. Then I have an empowered, motivated player.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming football season, Smith is confident in his team’s preparation, stating, “This year’s Glenbrook football team will be strong, well taught, in shape, and more knowledgeable than they were yesterday. But most of all, I want them to know that I really care about them.”
The Lions Club meets every Thursday at noon at the American Legion Memorial Hall, located at 119 W. Pine Street, Minden. Membership is open to those interested in giving back to the community and making a difference.