Community College Soccer: Smith takes on more soccer duties

COSTA MESA - Kevin Smith, an Orange Coast College assistant men’s

soccer coach, will replace Brandee Craig as the women’s team assistant,

Pirate head coach Barbara Bond said.

Craig is leaving OCC to take the head coaching job at Saddleback

College, which is fielding its inaugural women’s soccer team this fall.

She had been Bond’s assistant coach since 1993 and played under Bond at

Coast in 1987 and 1988.

Smith, in addition to serving as the assistant coach with the women’s

team this fall, will continue his duties as the top assistant for OCC’s

men’s team.

Last fall, in his first full season with the Pirates’ men’s squad,

Smith played a major role in OCC’s huge turnaround. Just one year after

going 2-14-4, the Bucs finished 19-4-4, advancing to the state

championship game. Hayes constantly credited Smith with having a huge

impact on the team’s success.

Before coming to Coast, Smith was an All-CIF player at Edison High

School and he finished as UC Irvine’s career scoring leader.

Smith also worked as the head soccer coach at Fountain Valley High

from 1991 to 1998, advancing to the CIF finals in 1995 and 1996. he was

voted Sunset League Coach of the Year in 1995, 1997 and 1998.