Arlie Lee Smith (October 7, 1915 – November 28, 1985) was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Hillsboro Junior College—now known as Hill College–in Hillsboro, Texas for one season, in 1949, and Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas from 1951 to 1966. Smith was also the athletic director at Navarro from 1951 to 1966.

A. Lee Smith
Biographical details
Born(1915-10-07)October 7, 1915
DiedNovember 28, 1985(1985-11-28) (aged 70)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1947La Vega HS (TX)
1948Hillsboro (assistant)
1949Hillsboro
1951–1966Navarro
Basketball
1951–?Navarro
Track and field
1951–?Navarro
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1951–1966Navarro
Head coaching record
Overall99–67–2 (junior college football)
Bowls1–1 (junior college football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
7 TJCC (1951–1953, 1958–1959, 1961–1962)

A native of Waco, Texas, Smith graduated in 1947 from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he majored in physical education.[1] He began his coaching career at La Vega High School in Bellmead, Texas and then went to Hillsboro Junior College in 1948 as an assistant football coach. He succeed Lloyd Raymer as Hillsboro's head football coach in 1949.[2] Smith was hired as head football coach at Navarro in 1951, succeeding Ken Clark, and also tasked to coach the basketball, and track teams at the school.[3] He stepped down as football coach an athletic director in 1966 to become chairman of the school's physical education program. Al Carmichael succeeded him in both roles.[4]

Smith earned a master's degree from Baylor University. In 1980, he was inducted into Austin College's Athletic Hall of Honor.[5]

Head coaching record

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Junior college football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Hillsboro Indians (Texas Junior College Conference) (1949)
1949 Hillsboro 8–2 3–1 2nd (East)
Hillsboro: 8–2 3–1
Navarro Bulldogs (Texas Junior College Conference) (1951–1963)
1951 Navarro 7–3 5–0 1st
1952 Navarro 8–2 5–1 T–1st
1953 Navarro 5–5–1 3–1 T–1st
1954 Navarro 6–4 4–1 2nd
1955 Navarro 5–4 3–3 T–3rd
1956 Navarro 5–4 3–2 3rd
1957 Navarro 4–6 2–3 4th
1958 Navarro 5–5 3–1 T–1st
1959 Navarro 7–2–1 3–0–1 T–1st
1960 Navarro 4–6 2–1 2nd
1961 Navarro 6–4 5–1 T–1st
1962 Navarro 10–1 7–1 T–1st W Hospitality Bowl
1963 Navarro 5–5 4–4 3rd
Navarro Bulldogs (Texas Junior College Football Federation) (1964–1966)
1964 Navarro 4–5 4–4 T–5th
1965 Navarro 5–3 4–3 T–2nd
1966 Navarro 5–6 3–4 T–4th L Shrine Hospital Bowl
Navarro: 91–65–2 60–30–1
Total: 99–67–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Brigham, Lee, ed. (1947). "The Chromascope 1947". The Chromascope. 47. Sherman, Texas: Austin College: 26. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  2. ^ "Lee Smith New Coach Hillsboro College Indians". Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light. Corsicana, Texas. August 23, 1949. p. 8. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Navarro Hires Smith As Head Grid Coach". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. May 16, 1951. p. 18. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "New Post Accepted By Navarro Coach". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. December 15, 1966. p. 30. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ "Austin College Honor Former La Vega Coach". Waco Tribune-Herald. Waco, Texas. October 28, 1980. p. 2C. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
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