Coach Hopes To ‘Help Team Heal’
Following tragedy over the summer, a coach with plenty of experience has stepped up to lead the Rockbridge County High School baseball team.
Brian Smith, who brings 20 years of college coaching experience and two years of of leading the Wildcats junior varsity team, was named RC’s new head varsity baseball coach at the Rockbridge County School Board meeting on Oct. 13. He replaces Travis Roadcap, who died unexpectedly on July 16 at age 34. Roadcap was the Wildcats’ head baseball coach for the last seven years.
Smith, 45, said he applied for the job because “I’ve lived my life in baseball” and because he felt he’s the right person to help the team heal. “It’s extremely unfortunate what happened to Coach Roadcap this summer,” said Smith. “I felt like, when that opening became available, I’m familiar with the guys, and I have a passion for coaching. I wanted to be the one to guide them through a difficult time. I want to be the one they look to, not just [for] baseball, but for everything.”
Smith said Roadcap’s death “is going to affect everybody for years to come,” and he wants to focus on “being that steady light for them that they can lean on. There are going to be some days that guys are gonna be missing him, expressing those emotions. It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to be sad. Let’s guide those feelings so they don’t get in the way of everyday feelings in life.”
Two years ago, Roadcap asked Smith if he could guide the JV team. “That was a good fit because I was definitely missing coaching,” said Smith.
Prior to coaching the JV team, before taking some time off from coaching, Smith was an assistant coach for the Washington and Lee University baseball team for 11 years, working mostly under head coach Jeff Stickley, who coached the Generals for 30 years before retiring in 2015. In 2009, Smith helped the Generals win their first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship before making their first trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. Smith was also an assistant coach at Southern Virginia University for three years.
Smith grew up in Ohio and played baseball for North Canton Hanover High School, primarily as a pitcher and some as an outfielder. He graduated from high school in 1999 and then went to Tiffin University in Ohio, graduating in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business. While at Tiffin, Smith was a four-year letterman and a relief pitcher, making a few starts. After Tiffin, Smith stayed in Ohio and went to graduate school for education at Defiance College, where he spent two seasons as the graduate assistant coach. He then coached one season of baseball at Maryville College in Tennessee before arriving at W&L in the summer of 2006.
In addition to coaching, Smith is in his third year as a physical education and health teacher for sixth through eighth grades at Lylburn Downing Middle School. Before teaching, he served as the program coordinator for the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization and coached youth baseball there. He’s also a play-by-play broadcaster for RC sports for Classic 96.7 3WZ, with one more football game to broadcast this season. He also has umpiring experience.
This past spring, after adding lights to their stadium, the Wildcats’ varsity baseball team went 4-16 overall and 2-14 in the Shenandoah District. They graduated five seniors and look to return an experienced group, led by all-district first-team designated hitter Austyn Gannutz, a senior.
On his staff, Smith will have Brandon Ramsey, one of his assistant coaches on the JV team in the spring, helping. He said he’ll be working in the coming weeks to fill out the rest of the staff, as the team gets some fall practices going.
Smith said he’s glad to be working with the RC athletic department, led by second-year RC athletic director Anthony Marasco. “I love what Anthony’s done,” said Smith, who has had Marasco as a guest at halftime of RC football radio broadcasts this fall.
Smith lives with his wife of seven years, Rebekah; his stepdaughter, Maddie, an RC junior; and 7-year-old daughter, Scarlet. Rebekah is a nurse with Augusta Pediatrics in Fishersville.
Looking forward to having Smith lead the baseball team, Marasco said, “We are excited to welcome Coach Smith. His experience, commitment to player development, and familiarity with our school community will be tremendous assets to our student- athletes.”
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