Doug Smith is new Tampa Prep boys soccer coach

Tampa Prep named Doug Smith, an assistant coach on the Terps' back-to-back Class 2A state champs, its new boys soccer head coach today to replace highly successful coach Jose DaCosta, who resigned after coaching the Terps for 14 seasons.

"He's built a fine program," Smith said of DaCosta. "He certainly set a high standard and I'm going to do my best to make sure it stays there."

Smith inherits a program that has won three state titles in the past four seasons. He played college soccer at Maryland, where he was captain of a breakthrough Terps team that was ranked 15th in the nation in 1995. He was also a volunteer assistant for a Maryland team that went to the NCAA Final Four in 2003. An Ohio native, he spent his early college soccer days at the University of Hartford, and transferred to Maryland when his coach Sasho Cirovski came to College Park.

Smith also played indoor soccer professional soccer, most recently with the Florida Thundercats of the NPSL in 1998-99. As a Tampa Prep assistant, Smith, 34, often participated in practices with players.

"As long as my health will allow," Smith said. "I think there's always a benefit to playing alongside someone who has played at the college level or professionally. I've spent most of the past 20 years either playing or coaching soccer, so I think with that experience, there's a lot to pass along."

Smith teaches history and social sciences at Tampa Prep, a factor that was important in his hiring.

"Number one, he had a great resume," Tampa Prep AD Carol Chalu said. "No. 2 he is a teacher here. We love our coaches being teachers here to be accessible to the kids at any time."

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA