Jaime McFarland

Smith stands at his desk in front of the many accolades he’s built over his time at Tampa Prep.

   One of the greatest assets to the students of Tampa Prep is the renowned teaching faculty. Prep’s teachers come from so many different backgrounds and experiences that facilitate the ideal learning environment. At the core of that faculty is History and Social Sciences Department Chair, Doug Smith. Known for his great mind, profound law experience, and consistently styled hair, Smith has become a pillar of the Prep community.

   In his seventeenth year as a Terrapin, Smith has taught a variety of history and law courses, as well as served as the varsity boys soccer coach, bringing home six total state championships. But that isn’t where his career began.

   “Before joining Tampa Prep, I was an attorney at the Public Defender’s office. I did that for about a year,” Smith said. 

   Throughout that time, Smith noticed as he lost passion for practicing law, he found himself searching for a new career path. This was when he decided to give teaching a shot.

“I think my second year in Law School, I was questioning whether I’d made the right decision, whether I wanted to practice law my entire career. So when a job opened up at Tampa Prep I applied,” Smith said.

The change in direction was not as simple as Smith had originally thought. Little teaching experience meant he might have to face some difficulties when looking at the new career.

“I actually didn’t get the job at first, because I didn’t have any teaching experience. [However], the guy who they hired backed out two weeks before school started and they were clearly desperate, so that’s why they hired me,” he said with a smile.

Now as the department chair of the history and social sciences department, Smith has overseen a variety of curricula as new courses have been added and created.

“[They hired me into] the history department, and at the time I taught APUSH and a couple sections of World history. [Then] after my first year I was almost exclusively AP [Government] and APUSH.”

Smith looks back at his time at Prep from many different perspectives. He specifically noted his fascination with the culture surrounding Tampa Prep’s environment in and out of the classroom.

“I do like the culture of Tampa Prep where as a teacher I’m able to have an almost-collegial relationship with the students. It’s not necessarily me getting up and lecturing, and being the all-knowing teacher at the front,” Smith stated.

Outside his classes, Smith has found himself involved in coaching the soccer team, monitoring numerous clubs including Rock The Boat and Mock Trial, as well as History Club.

“I think that the memories that you create being part of a club or sports team are really cool, and irrespective of whether you win, you have those memories,” he said.

However, he noted his biggest highlights have come through some special seasons with the soccer team. Although he loves the enthusiasm surrounding all clubs and sports at the school, having coached the boys varsity soccer team for numerous years, Smith finds many of his greatest memories from the team’s successes.

“Certainly, our state championships with the soccer team would make it to the top of the list,” Smith said.

After gaining 6 state titles under his belt as both an assistant coach and the head coach, Smith, as always, stayed humble and credited his success in the program to the ‘fortune’ of having had many talented players come through the school during his time.

Some would call it a dynasty, others a lucky run, but it is no question: Smith’s name will go down as one of, if not the most successful figures in Prep’s sports history. His legacy branches beyond the pitch at Shimberg Field, beyond his coursework for AP Gov, and beyond his well-established reputation on campus.  He has shaped many Tampa Prep students’ and athletes’ lives.