(Ryan Smith addressing the crowd at a meet the team night a few years ago. Submitted photo. Photo by Jody Shawley)

Smith, a teacher in the Keystone Elementary School, has been the junior high football coach for Keystone since 2013 and has also served as a junior high basketball coach for the Panthers since 2010.

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Smith said. “I’m thankful that the school board and the district have given me this chance and believe in me. Keystone has been my home since they gave me my first full-time teaching job in fall 2009. I have been fortunate to be involved in not only the football program here but also the basketball program and the golf program, and I have been able to form good relationships with the community. I am honored to take over the program and make a difference not only on the field but off the field as well.”

Prior to becoming the Junior High Football Coach, Smith was a varsity assistant in 2010 for the Panthers. He also served two years as the golf coach at Keystone from 2011 to 2012 with the Panthers winning the 2012 KSAC Title undefeated.

A graduate of Clarion-Limestone High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball and ran track, and Clarion University, Smith started his coaching career at his alma mater coaching junior high and then junior varsity basketball from 2003-2009. He was also the junior high football coach for the Lions from 2004-2007 and coached the boys’ soccer team at the school from 2008-09.

“I learned a lot playing for Coach (Clyde) Conti at C-L and coaching under Coach (Todd) Smith,” Ryan Smith said. “They gave me my start, and I will also be appreciative for that.”

Smith’s coaching staff was also approved with Jason Nellis as the varsity first assistant, Jason Best as the second varsity assistant, Josh Albright as the junior high head coach, Jon Beal as the first junior high assistant coach, Garry Henry as the second junior high assistant coach and Chuck Weaver and Austin Ion as varsity volunteer coaches — Ion will be helping out in the summer before playing football at Grove City College in the fall.

“I’m excited about my staff,” Smith said. “I know they are all as dedicated to this program and these kids as I am. I am especially excited to continued coaching with Jason Nellis. He was the head coach here at Keystone when I started and hired me to his staff. We then coached junior high football together for the last two years and had a lot of success and a great working relationship. Jason Best was also one of my assistant coaches in Junior High before moving to the varsity level. We all have a great working relationship.”

Smith replaces Dan Reed, who spent two different stints as Keystone’s football coach compiling a record of 49-65 in 12 seasons. He was the Panthers coach from 1996 to 2003 and then again from 2014 through 2017. Keystone was 3-6 last season.

Smith is married to the former Kelly Mapes, a Keystone graduate.

“Kelly has always been very supportive of my coaching career,” Smith said. “She is my biggest fan and supports not only me but all the players as well.”