Smth more comfortable heading into second year as Orangeburg Prep football head coach

Orangeburg – With a year under his belt as the varsity football head coach for Orangeburg Preparatory School, Brooks Smith is feeling a little more at ease with things as the start of the 2026 season approaches on August 21.

           “I do feel more comfortable,” said Smith, who took over last year after Don Shelley retired. “That comes mainly with the day-to-day operations – when to prep the field, when to do this, when to do that, things people don’t generally think about.  

“The Xs and Os hasn’t really changed much. I am definitely not as nervous going into this year. It’s more the admin(istration) part than the coaching part. I’m excited, very excited for the kids.”

Smith has four members of his initial coaching staff returning in defensive coordinator Michael Heath, running backs and linebackers coach Ryan McNair, wide receivers and defensive backs coach Ley Pickens and veteran OP coach Sam Lambrecht. The two new members of the staff are Caden Haws, who will coach the offensive line and the defensive line, and Cade Wiles, who will help with wide receivers and defensive backs.

           Smith, who led the Indians to a 7-4 record and a berth in the SCISA AA state playoffs last season, is excited to see how Orangeburg Prep performs defensively with eight starters back and a year of familiarity working in Heath’s system.

           “It took a little while for the kids to learn the system, but at the end of the year it was pretty impressive what we were doing,” Smith said. “He also has done a jam-up job as the strength coach. He has really improved that aspect of the program. Our student-athletes look different today than they did a year ago.”

           Last season was McNair’s first one coaching on the varsity level. Smith is impressed with how he has developed in such a short time.

“Ryan does a great job with the kids,” he said. “He knows the defensive system and how the coach wants it done.”

Pickens began coaching at Orangeburg Prep when Shelley took over four years ago. Pickens worked for Shelley during his first stint with the Indians as well.

“Coach Pickens does a great job with teaching the fundamentals, especially with the wide receives on running their routes and on showing the defensive backs where to be and how to get there,” Smith said.

Smith is really happy to have Haws on board to coach the lines. Haws was a 3-year starter on the defensive line for Power 4 Conference school Brigham Young University.

           “He’s a big man, a large individual, who pushes the kids really hard,” Smith said of Haws, who he estimates is 6-feet-3-inches tall and weighs around 300 pounds. “The players have really taken to him. He does a great job with the kids, teaching them the little nuances on both sides of the line that you learn while starting at a Power 4 school. He’s teaching them little things with technique and stuff. I’m excited to see him out on the field with them (when fall practice starts on July 23).”

Lambrecht has been around the Orangeburg Prep athletic program in different capacities for three decades, according to Smith.

“He’s up in the booth with me, and he’s just a wealth of knowledge,” said Smith, who was coached by Lambrecht.

Wilds is another graduate of Orangeburg Prep, who played collegiately at Newberry College.

“He’s been out and about this summer,” Smith said. “He is very knowledgeable.”

           Smith is hoping to one day have a run as the Orangeburg Prep football coach like the one he has had as the head coach of the school’s girls track and field team. Smith led the Indians to their sixth consecutive state championship this past season. He will also be coaching the boys team as well and will be assisted by Michael Delaney and Olivia Smith.

           Orangeburg Prep will have only one new varsity head coach. That will be Will Jameson, who will take over the softball program.

           “They hired Will to market the school and advertise, and I will get him to coach softball,” said athletic director Jan Stoudenmire, who is also the person whom Jameson will be succeeding as softball head coach. “He has a lot of experience with public school, and we’re happy to have him come on staff and learn about SCISA.”

           Stoudenmire will be back for her 28^th season as the girls basketball head coach. She has led the Indians to the championship game of the last two AAA state tournaments. The Indians posted a 22-5 record.

           Barkley McNair, Stoudenmire’s daughter, will be the junior varsity head coach again and will assist with the varsity. Angie Patterson will be the B team head coach.

           Delaney will be returning to coach tshe boys basketball team. Orangeburg Prep finished with a 9-16 record after reaching the semifinals in Delaney’s first season.

           Katherine Smith will again coach the volleyball team. She led the Indians to a region title and a 2-2 record in the AAA state tournament.

           Tate Jameson, the cousin of Will, will once again coach the baseball team. After leading the Indians to the championship series of the 2025 AAA state playoffs, Jameson guided them to a 13-13 record this season and to the championship round of their bracket in the playoffs.

           Mary Albergotti will be the girls tennis head coach, Matt Burleson will be the boys golf coach, Josh Shurtleff will coach the boys and girls cross country teams as well as the bowling team, and Lauren Still will be the cheer coach.