Bio

Andy Smith enters the 2024-2025 year for his 4th season at the helm of the Chaffey College Baseball program, and his 6th season overall at Chaffey.

Coming off a 2nd consecutive IEAC title, Smith’s 2024 Panther squad saw 16 sophomores matriculate to 4-year universities after a 27-15 overall record. The Panthers held a top 15 offense and a top 5 pitching staff under the leadership of Coach Andy and the rest of his staff. The 2024 Panthers sent 5 more players to the NCAA D1 level, matching the success from their previous seasom.

Freshman Ryder Young was awarded ABCA All-American honors, the 2nd All-American in as many years for the Panthers. 

Yahir Ramirez was Andy’s 2nd consecutive Gold Glove SS, and INF Tank Rodriguez was the 3rd hitter in as many years with a .400 batting average or better. This also marked the 3rd straight season the Panthers hit over .300 as a team and finished top 5 in stolen bases (2nd in 2024). 

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. Coach Andy received IEAC Coach of the Year honors 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 2nd best defensive shortstop on the west coast. 7 Panthers were awarded all-conference honors as well.

The Panthers finished 1st 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.

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 independently for 11 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 son, Hanssen.