Geneva City Board approves Donnie Smith as high school football coach and athletic director

The Geneva City Board of Education voted to hire Donnie Smith as Geneva High School football coach and athletic director after a superintendent recommendation during the board—s January meeting.

Superintendent Mr. C recommended the hire, saying the district—s interview process and committee recommendation supported placing Smith in the role. The board invited discussion about transition details, including Smith—s ongoing assistant principal duties and spring- and summer-season responsibilities; the superintendent said Smith and current staff would coordinate those details to make the transition "as seamless" as possible.

During the vote the board approved the hire by voice. The minutes record "one abstain" but do not identify which member abstained.

After the vote the chair addressed Smith and the community, urging support: "We voted you in. So, we support you," the chair said, encouraging the community to back the new coach. Donnie Smith responded, "Thank you," and board members offered congratulations.

The superintendent also recommended that, effective in the 2026—27 academic year, Smith transfer from his current position as GMS assistant principal to a GHS teaching position; the board approved that personnel transition and discussed posting the resulting assistant-principal vacancy in the spring. The superintendent said Smith will complete his assistant-principal duties through the end of his current contract while beginning planning for the high-school program.

The board did not include a recorded roll-call tally by name in the transcript; the approved motion and the recorded abstention are the formal actions documented in the meeting record. The board listed a follow-up item to post administrative openings resulting from the transition.