James Smith enters his first year as an assistant coach for the Eagles men's soccer program in 2023. Smith was hired as an assistant coach for the Georgia Southern men's soccer team in January of 2023.

Smith arrives from Lander University, where he was Squires’ assistant coach for the previous season. In 2022, Smith helped lead the Bearcats to a Peach Belt Conference tournament championship and a NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. The Bearcats finished with a 12-3-6 overall record and went 8-1-3 in PBC play.

Prior to his second stint at Lander, Smith was part of the creation of Carolina Velocity FC, a youth soccer organization based out of Raleigh, N.C. Smith was responsible for player development while with the organization. During this time, Smith was a part of Greenville FC from 2018-2019, where he was coached by Squires.

In 2017, Smith was hired by Lander for his first stint with the Bearcats. Smith helped the squad achieve a 13-4-3 record, including an undefeated mark in PBC play at 6-0-1. Lander would win the PBC Tournament and make a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament before falling 3-2 in double-overtime to Young Harris.

Prior to 2017, Smith served as a graduate assistant at ETSU, where he earned his masters in Kinesiology and Sports Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology and Performance. Smith was a two-year GA with the Buccaneers after playing his final year of eligibility at ETSU in 2015.

Smith scored seven goals with five assists for a total of 19 points at ETSU, earning First Team All-SoCon honors and earned SoCon Player of the Month in September 2015 after scoring four goals and a pair of assists. Smith started and played in all 19 matches for ETSU, which including upset wins over #15 Kentucky and UNCG in the SoCon Tournament.

A four-year starter for Lander head coach Lee Squires at Lees-McRae from 2011-14, Smith started 60 matches and tallied 53 career points with 17 goals and 19 assists. He earned All-Conference, All-Region, and First Team Academic All-American honors at Lees-McRae.

Smith also spent three seasons in the Premier Developmental League, playing for the Carolina Dynamo from 2013-14 and GPS Portland Phoenix in 2015.

Smith earned a bachelor's in sports science from Lees-McRae in 2014.