Butte Cobras are pleased to announce Ty Smith to the coaching staff. Smith joins head coach Chris Shadow on the bench for the revamped Cobras.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma Smith has an extensive history in Junior hockey as both a player and coach. As a player Smith skated three seasons with the Tulsa Rampage (WSHL) with a stint playing north of the border in between.
As a 20-year old Smith got a taste of coaching helping Tulsa Union High School while skating with the Rampage. When his Junior playing eligibility ended Smith became the youngest assistant coach in the WSHL joining the Cheyenne Stampede in 2011. He would spend the next four seasons as an assistant coach before getting his first opportunity to lead a team.
“I found my love of coaching while playing Junior,” said Smith. “Running youth camps, coaching the Tulsa high school team; it helped lead me to where I am today.”
Smith may be a familiar name to some in Butte, taking command of the Cobras in November 2015. Taking over a team with a 1-13 record, Smith guided the team to a 11-35-6 finish. With a full summer of recruiting Smith propelled the Cobras 32-18-2 record in 2016-17 while advancing to the third round of the league playoffs.
With the Cobras sitting out the following season after a ownership change, Smith moved to the Pacific Northwest as head coach of the West Sound Warriors. After posting just six victories a season before, Smith helped turn the program around leading the team to a 21-29-1 record in 2017-18.
Smith returned home after the Warriors ceased operations and was named assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Blazers. After one season he was promoted to head coach for 2019-20.