XC Head Coach Brandon Staley announced the hiring of Brittani Smith during the summer of 2023 to help continue the growth of the Cross Country program at Evangel.
Smith was raised in West Plains, Missouri, competing as a Zizzer and earning a scholarship to Oklahoma State University in Cross Country and Track. After competiting as a D-I athlete, Smith graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Physical and Health Education from Missouri State in 2015.
Coach Smith joined the Lighthouse Christian Chargers athletic program, a homeschool CO-OP located in southern Missouri, in 2019. For the past four seasons, Smith served as the Athletic Director for the Lighthouse Christian Chargers Cross Country and Track programs. Smith brought a wealth of knowledge and experience at the D-I level to Lighthouse Christian, starting the Cross Country program in her first year of being a coach at LCC. Smith coached three athletes who currently run on athletic scholarships at other colleges and grew the track team to over 100 athletes in just three seasons.
Currently, Smith teaches multiple science classes, varying from elementary through high school, while also working to achieve her master's degree here at Evangel. Thrilled to be stepping into the XC Coordinator position here at Evangel, Coach Smith is supported by her husband, Zachary, and their three daughters, who all reside in Bruner, Missouri.
