Hartselle High School athletic director Pat Smith recently retired after over 25 years as a teacher, coach and administrator in Hartselle and Morgan County Schools.

Before returning to Hartselle, where he was a teacher and coach from 1996-2000, He spent time as a teacher/coach at Danville along with being principal at Falkville Elementary School and Danville High School.

He spent the last ten years as Hartselle’s assistant principal and athletic director. He has been a part of an athletic program that has become one of the best in North Alabama and the state.

He was a part of hiring two football coaches, a boys’ basketball coach, a girls’ basketball coach, along with two softball coaches.

“I have made many memories during my time as athletic director, but there are three that stand out,” Smith said. “Those three are seeing the girls’ basketball playing in the Final 4, Keondre Swoopes catching a TD pass to defeat Muscle Shoals in the game’s final seconds, and the 2022 baseball team winning the State championship.”

After working with Smith for the last four years, Jake Miles has been named the new athletic director at Hartselle.

“Above the memories on the field, it is ones off the field that are cherished,” Smith said. “The many memories from the comradery with all of the coaches I have worked with. They were a great group to serve and work with daily.”