Career
Due to service during World World War II with the Royal Australian Air Force (Royal Australian Air Force) he missed the 1944 season altogether but returned for a final year in 1945. During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s (1948–1957), he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960.
He then coached Coburg in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) for the 1963 season before heading to Richmond.
He suffered a heart attack in 1964 and further health concerns saw him relinquish the coaching reins at the Tigers early in 1965. Smith died of a heart attack in 1967.
