Smith played football from 1933-36, baseball from 1934-35, and basketball in 1934, also serving as captain of the football team in 1936. He went on to be a freshman coach at Illinois College from 1937-39 before coaching and teaching at many high schools from 1939-55. He became the director of health, physical education, and safety at Moline High School and served in that capacity until 1975.