Nigel Smith has been named Lexington Catholic’s fourth head football coach in the program’s 27-season history. Smith has been a teacher and an Assistant Football Coach at LCHS since 2003.  

Smith has football roots that run very deep in Lexington. He graduated from Bryan Station High School in 1997, where he played football and was an All-City Honorable Mention at the quarterback and defensive back positions. He went on to play college football at the United States Military Academy at West Point, before transferring to the University of Kentucky. He was on the Wildcat teams that played in the ’98 Outback Bowl and the ’99 Music City Bowl. Smith was named to the 2002 All SEC Academic Team, and received his Bachelors’ degree in Education from UK, and his Master’s degree from Georgetown College. He also played professional football in the Arena Football League with the Lexington Horsemen in 2002 and 2003. As a standout defensive back, he was the leading tackler on the team, and set the Horsemen record for most solo tackles in a single game. In 2003, the Horsemen won the Indoor Bowl IV (the National Championship for Arena Football).

Smith says he is excited about the challenge of coaching at Lexington Catholic.

“This is a place that you have to bring it every day,” says Smith. “If you are afraid of the challenge, you’ll shrink in the light of success.”

“We are very excited to have Coach Smith as the new head football coach and we are confident that under the guidance of Nigel, we will continue to build on the tradition and success that is Lexington Catholic football,” stated David Gadberry, Director of Athletics.

Coach Smith has been on the sidelines for fifteen years, and teaches Social Studies, serving as the Chair of the Social Studies Department. His wife, Cynthia, also teaches at LCHS in the Science Department. They have two sons, Shaun, 11, and Eric, 7.

State Champions
2007, 2005
Semi-State Champions
2015, 2007, 2005

Undefeated Regular Season
2001, 1998
LCHS Overall Record
229 wins - 72 losses
(1991 - 2015)

Regional Champions
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2005
Regional Finalists
2016, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2002,
2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997

District Champions
2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005,
2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1998