Franklinton head football coach Shane Smith was appointed president of the Louisiana Football Coaches Association on Thursday, just days after being elected vice-president of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association at its annual coaches clinic.

“It is humbling,” Smith said. “There comes a point in your career where it becomes more than just about you and your school. It was somewhat surprising and I was a little reluctant to take on both roles but I think I was put in this position for a reason and couldn’t say no.”

“My biggest concern is managing both posts and fulfilling them to the best of my ability as well as continuing to do my job. You stay busy enough just coaching and now I wear two hats.”

Smith takes over the permanent position of the LFCA from Charles Baglio, who served in that capacity for the past 25 years. Baglio is currently coordinator of football relations at LSU after a coaching career of more than 30 years at Independence. Smith has served on the board of directors for the past eight years and Lutcher’s Tim Detillier is the vice-president.

“We have some strong football coaches in the state of Louisiana and my job is to try and find the guys who best represent the sport and its athletes to serve on the board so that we can act as a voice and try to do the best to move it forward,” Smith said.

Both the LFCA and LHSCA act as liaisons between state coaches and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association through meetings, clinics and conventions. The main difference is the LHSCA represents all coaches from football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, golf, tennis, etc.

Smith said LFCA duties include rule changes and a current topic is the possibility of adopting NCAA Football rules as opposed to the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

“It is strictly football coaches,” Smith said. “The biggest difference between the two is you represent all coaches.”

Smith was voted to a five-year term limit at the LHSCA Coaches Clinic earlier this week at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge and will serve as president at some point in that time frame. St. Amant basketball coach Gary Duhe is the incoming president.

“They wanted to see a football coach have a voice,” Smith said.

The clinic offered a forum to contemplate key issues for the upcoming school year.

Changes in sportsmanship, athlete safety, education and coaching shortages were among some of the major topics. The three-day event concluded Thursday.

A workshop explaining new sportsmanship rules passed by the LHSAA member principals in January opened Wednesday’s sessions.

“In the last couple of years there has been more unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in all sports,” Smith said. “We all have a moral and ethical responsibility to make sure we make better decisions and that includes fans, parents, coaches and players.”

Student safety was another sticking point and Smith said Washington Parish Schools are currently in the process of adopting services that offer base testing to be compared to later analysis of those suspected of concussions aiding diagnosis.

“Right now when people hear about concussions, they think football but kids get them in all sports,” Smith said. ‘The key is educating coaches and parents on the proper protocol for what you should do when you suspect it before they suffer a second one.”