- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Gulf Breeze Today
By the People, for the People
Former Thorsby Player Now Coaching at Wayne State
A.J. Smith's faith-led path takes him from Thorsby to Detroit as running backs coach and director of player personnel.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:09pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A former small-town high school player's faith-driven path to becoming a college position coach reflects a growing emphasis on holistic player development.Gulf Breeze TodayA.J. Smith, a former football player at Thorsby High School, has joined the coaching staff at Wayne State University in Detroit as the running backs coach and director of player personnel. Smith's journey into coaching was guided by his Christian faith, with a chance encounter on Twitter leading him to coaching stops in Minnesota and Florida before landing at Wayne State.
Why it matters
Smith's story highlights how faith and personal connections can shape a coaching career path, especially for former players looking to transition into the coaching ranks. His focus on mentoring players beyond just football aligns with a growing trend of coaches taking a more holistic approach to player development.
The details
After playing football at Thorsby, Smith was unsure whether to continue his playing career or pursue coaching. Through prayer, he felt called to coaching, and a chance Twitter interaction with Terrence Isaac, then a coach at Rochester Community Technical College, led Smith to volunteer at Maplesville. This led to a coaching job under Isaac in Minnesota, followed by a stint at a high school in Detroit, before Isaac recruited Smith to join him at Wayne State. As the running backs coach, Smith oversees that position group, while as director of player personnel he handles player management, travel, and budgets.
- Smith played football at Thorsby High School.
- In 2024, Smith volunteered to coach at Maplesville after making an announcement on Facebook.
- In 2025, Smith coached for a year at Rochester Community Technical College in Minnesota.
- In 2026, Smith coached for a year at Mayo High School in Detroit.
- In 2026, Smith joined the coaching staff at Wayne State University in Detroit.
The players
A.J. Smith
A former football player at Thorsby High School who is now the running backs coach and director of player personnel at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Terrence Isaac
A coach who reached out to A.J. Smith on Twitter, leading to Smith's coaching career path through stops in Minnesota and Florida before joining Isaac's staff at Wayne State.
Riley Smith
A.J. Smith's wife, who is also a Thorsby High School graduate and has provided tremendous support for A.J.'s coaching career.
What they’re saying
“I'm a big Christian, so that's a big part of my faith and my journey I was just praying, should I continue my football career or hop into my coaching career, asking God what he wants from my life.”
— A.J. Smith, Wayne State Running Backs Coach
“(Isaac and I) talked about God and faith and we talked for just about an hour or two (when we met).”
— A.J. Smith, Wayne State Running Backs Coach
“To me, it was a no-brainer to make that leap of faith to go out to Rochester, Minn., to coach football up there.”
— A.J. Smith, Wayne State Running Backs Coach
“For me, it's bigger than football. When I was at Rochester football, not forcing religion on anyone, I was able to see 25 guys get baptized, so whether it's growing in their faith or teaching them how to be a man or a husband, that's what I want to do.”
— A.J. Smith, Wayne State Running Backs Coach
What’s next
Smith will continue to focus on mentoring his players at Wayne State, both in their football development and in their personal growth as men and husbands.
The takeaway
A.J. Smith's journey from Thorsby High School player to college coach at Wayne State demonstrates how faith, personal connections, and a desire to impact lives beyond just football can shape a coaching career path. His holistic approach to player development aligns with a growing trend in college sports.