BEAVERCREEK — Trace Smitherman returns to Beavercreek as new head coach for the 2024 season.

He was an assistant at the school for five years before leading programs at Stebbins, Xenia and Tri-County North since 2009.

New coaches bring new systems and ideas with them, and for a Beavercreek team that had many seniors graduate off its team a year ago it may be easier for younger players to acquaint themselves faster than it would have been for more experience players.

“I really believe that’s part of it,” Smitherman said. “I have not thought about, you know, the graduating seniors, unfortunately. As far as they go, they did a really good job last year trying to lead these young men, and we just want to make sure we put them in a good position to win.”

Winning has unfortunately been a struggle for Beavercreek in recent years. The Beavers have not won more than two games in a season over the past six campaigns and have not won any Greater Western Ohio Conference league games during that same timespan.

Last season the Beavers dominated a pair of Dayton City League teams but struggled against the rest of its competition.

Beavercreek opens its year hosting Xenia before playing Ponitz CTC and Thurgood Marshall, the two teams it defeated last season. The GWOC is always a grind and will be elevated this year with four of the Beavers’ seven games being played on the road.

Jack Minnick returns at quarterback, but won’t be asked to throw as much in the option-based offense Smitherman primarily uses. That means there will be a host of new options used to run the ball that are still being determined.

Defensively there will need to be a replacement for CJ Crawford, who nearly had three times as many tackles as anyone else on the team. The leading candidates to step up may be Noah Wazgar or Cohen Nelson.

The one thing Smitherman said he expects to see for sure is the team being decisive on each play.

“We want to play fast, right?” he said. “Be fast and efficient, be physical when the opportunity presents itself as far as that goes. On every play, play smart and let’s not beat ourselves. We want to be in control of the football. Don’t turn it over and execute every game.”

Many coaches have tried to turn Beavercreek into a consistent program and Smitherman has proven with time his teams have improved at each stop as a head coach.

Given the chance to adapt to his philosophies, he believes his players will figure things out on the execution end and that will parlay into future success.

“We have a lot of guys that are just working really hard trying to develop what we need to be a good football team,” Smitherman said. It’s not about one night. It’s about building a program and getting them where they need to be.

“You know, we’re trying to get them to understand the commitment that you have to have in anything you do in life. Inside and outside the lines, and we’re delivering those messages on a regular basis.”

SEASON OUTLOOK

Beavercreek Beavers

Coach: Trace Smitherman (1st year, 0-0)

2023 record: 2-8 (GWOC 8th, did not make D-I playoffs); Points Per Game: 15.1 (Off.) 32.6 (Def.)

What to expect: “The pace in which we move, how we get from point A to point B, that’s something that we’re harping on a daily basis to see.” — Trace Smitherman, head coach

Key Players: Jack Minnick, Jr, QB (64-153, 955 yds, 4 TD, 13 INT); Chris Lay, Jr, RB (38 att, 183 yds, 2 TD); Laken Pierce, Jr, WR (20 rec, 399 yds, 3 TD); Zane Piatt, Sr, LB (27 tkls, 9 solo, 1 sack, 3 TFL); David Svoboda, Jr, DB (25 tkls, 17 solo, 2 INT, 1 PD); Noah Wazgar, Sr, DL (32 tkls, 4 solo, 4 TFL, 1FR)

Captains: Not yet decided

Schedule (all games 7 p.m.)

(Home games in ALL CAPS)

Aug. 23 — XENIA

Aug. 30 — PONITZ CTC

Sept. 6 — at Thurgood Marshall

Sept. 13 — NORTHMONT

Sept. 20 — at Miamisburg

Sept. 27 — CENTERVILLE

Oct. 4 — at Springboro

Oct. 11 — SPRINGFIELD

Oct. 18 — at Wayne

Oct. 25 — at Fairmont

Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on X (formerly Twitter) @Steven_Wright_.