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Breaking News: Former Ole Miss Coach Mike Smith Joins National Scouting Report as Executive Director of Scouting

Mike Smith (left) has joined National Scouting Report as Executive Director of Scouting and is pictured with the company’s CEO Rusty Rigney.

The following information was released this afternoon by National Scouting Report out of Alabaster, Alabama…

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National Scouting Report (NSR), the world’s longest-tenured recruiting organization based out of Alabaster, Alabama, announced today that legendary coach Mike Smith will be joining NSR as its Executive Director of Scouting.

“We are so excited to have Coach Smith come on board and help lead our scouts around the world” said Rusty Rigney, CEO of National Scouting Report.  “With his knowledge of college recruiting, his ability to evaluate talent and his passion to see the players succeed, he is the perfect fit for the NSR team.”

Smith has 935 wins in his college coaching career.

Smith, who has coached 21 years in the college ranks with 935 total wins,” explained why he is taking on the new role.

“NSR has been helping athletes live their dream of playing college athletics for 40 years,” he said today. “They truly change the lives of the athletes they work with. I knew this was a group I wanted to be a part of going forward.”

Smith adds he is excited about the future growth of NSR and the opportunity to help student-athletes realize their dream of playing at the college level.

“I am looking forward to building my team of scouts nationally,” Smith continued. “NSR has some great scouts out there working with players.  I will be looking to add to these scouts with a team of former coaches and players who share the same passion as we do.”

Rigney said the former head coach, who had success with his stops at Ole Miss, McNeese State, California Baptist, UC Riverside and Biola, and the NSR executive team have already outlined the San Diego native’s responsibilities and what he will be doing in the near future.

“Coach Smith will be busy from Day One,” the company’s CEO explained. “Mike has recruiting seminars along with team and organizational workouts already set up. Mike’s time will be in high demand in the coming months as he will be at tournaments, combines and camps sharing his experience as a college coach and letting the athletes get a clear picture of how recruiting really works.”

Smith was the head coach at Ole Miss from 2014-2019. Photo by Ole Miss Athletics.

Smith, who guided Ole Miss to the program’s only four NCAA Tournament appearances including twice advancing to the Super Regional rounds (2017 and 2019), revealed that he used NSR’s services when he was a head coach.

“When I was coaching, there was only one recruiting organization that I trusted and used and that was NSR,” Smith said. “When it was time for my own son to go through the recruiting process in baseball, I knew we needed some help and I knew who to turn to for that guidance.  I got with Robby Wilson, the local NSR scout, because I had seen his knowledge of the process and his passion for the athletes and knew that my family was in good hands.”

Rigney says that Smith’s baseball experience, including playing professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals organization and having coached at the college and high school levels before starting in softball, would also be of value to the company.

“What an asset to our scouts and what an asset to the athletes that work with NSR,” Cagle said. “Mike will play a major role in educating the NSR athletes on how to navigate the once in a lifetime recruiting process.  Our group is very strong, and we just got stronger.”

Coach Smith with his daughter Ashlee.

Smith and Ellen, his wife of 27 years, have two children—Ashlee (23), a graduate of Ole Miss, and Tyler (20), a sophomore at Itawamba College—and says he’s excited to help athletes and their families find the right fit with potential university and college coaches.

“I want to thank Rusty for this great opportunity and the position he has given me within NSR,” Smith continued. “I am truly honored to be part of the NSR brand and I am looking forward to being an integral part of this established scouting organization which is a leader in finding prospective student-athletes and their families collegiate homes.”

“I hope to bring a fresh prospective and approach, as well as be a major contributor to the growth of NSR and their mission to help match student-athletes and college coaches find the best fit for their futures and the collegiate programs,” the long-time coach concluded.

“But it is more than that, NSR wants to make dreams come true!  Nothing better than that!  When each scout for NSR can personally evaluate, promote and educate the prospects and their families on the recruiting process, they will be better prepared to make that “special” and “important” decision for their future.  This is why NSR has been so successful for 40-plus years.”

About National Scouting Report

Founded in 1980 NSR is the world’s oldest on-the-ground college scouting and recruiting organization.  The company’s mission is to help qualified athletes get recruited across all levels by promoting them to colleges nationwide.  NSR scouts consist of former collegiate and professional athletes, college coaches, and individuals who share a passion for helping the student-athletes and their families navigate the recruiting process to find that true fit at the next level. If you’re interested in joining the NSR scout team or having your athlete(s) scouted, contact: [email protected].

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