Bio

Andy Smith returns for his 3^rd season at the helm of the Chaffey College Baseball program, and his 5^th season overall at Chaffey. In 2023, the Panthers enjoyed their most successful season since 2016 with a 28-14 record, capturing the IEAC title (21-3 conference record), graduating all of their sophomores, with 11 moving on to play baseball at the 4-year level. Chaffey saw a program-high 5 players commit to NCAA D1 programs, and had their first ABCA All-American since 2016 in RHP Braden Hofmeyer, winning conference MVP as well.

Other highlights from the 2023 season included conference gold glove winners Matt Chavez, Clay Porter and Braden Hofmeyer, with Clay Porter receiving ABCA Pacific Association All-Defensive Team at shortstop, being recognized as the 2^nd best defensive shortstop on the west coast. 7 Panthers were awarded all-conference honors as well.

The Panthers finished 1^st in the state rankings in stolen bases and double plays turned, both large in part to the play of leadoff hitter/shortstop Clay Porter.

Andy came to Chaffey in the fall of 2019 after beginning his coaching career at Biola University in 2016. As first assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Panthers, Andy worked with the offense, outfielders, baserunners, led the recruiting efforts, academic success, and prepared scouting reports, in addition to other operational components of the program.

He also assisted in the matriculation process of numerous student-athletes, seeing over 20 players move on to the four-year level since the spring of 2020. His main goal was to build great relationships with the players here at Chaffey, but also players, coaches and families in the inland empire community.

In a shortened 2020 season, the Panthers finished the year with a 14-7-1 record, with a ranking of 12th in Southern California, and a 9-5 record against other ranked teams. Responsible for scouting reports, defensive positioning and working closely with baserunners, the Panthers finished the shortened season 3rd in the state in fielding percentage, 5th in strikeouts, and 10th in stolen bases. Chaffey did not play a season in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August of 2021, Andy took over as interim head coach at Chaffey College, with the focus of building excellent team chemistry and culture, new-age player development, service to others, and preparing young men with skills for life beyond Chaffey that translate on and off the field.

In Andy's first season coaching at Biola under head coach Jay Sullenger, he played a vital role in restoring the culture of Biola Baseball into a highly competitive NAIA and NCAA D2 program. In 2017 the Eagles reached a 35-18 overall record, the school’s best record since 2011, and only the second winning record in that time frame. In 2018, and Biola’s first in NCAA Division II, the Eagles held their own in a highly competitive PacWest conference, with a 34-22 overall record.

Working closely with baserunners, the Eagles led the GSAC in stolen bases in 2017 with 89, and base stealers were successful a PacWest league-best 81 times in 2018. 

His coaching duties at Biola included recruiting, working with hitters, outfielders, and baserunners, summer ball placement, academic success, camp coordination, travel operations, and scouting reports. Overseeing the academic success of his student-athletes, 14 players received Academic All-PacWest honors in 2018.

Andy played at Santa Barbara City College, Dixie State University (now Utah Tech), and Biola University. He has worked as a hitting instructor for world renown coach Dave Coggin's PFA facility in Montclair, as well as independently for 9 years. He completed his B.A. degree in communication studies from UNLV, and his M.S. in kinesiology from California Baptist University. He currently resides in La Verne with his wife, Suzannah and their baby son, Hanssen.