Matt Smith is filling some well-worn shoes.

Presbyterian College athletics director Dee Nichols announced Smith’s hiring to succeed Brian Purcell, who held the women’s soccer reins for 35 years and was, until Wednesday, the only head coach in Blue Hose history, and for once, it wasn’t just the Division I era.

A former assistant under Purcell, who retired in October, Smith spent seven years as head coach at Limestone and spent time as an assistant at Baylor and Kansas State over the past seven seasons. The Columbia native and USC grad coached under Purcell in 2005-09.

“We expect to see an indelible imprint on the program with Matt leading the way, forming PC into a perennial contender in the Big South Conference,” stated Nichols.

Smith went 80-38-10 in 2010-16 at Limestone.

“It is truly an honor to come back home and be the second head coach of such a proud program,” stated Smith. “I’m beyond thankful for Dee and her staff believing in me to lead this program. It is going to take a lot of hard work from my staff and our ladies, but I am confident with the continued support of our administration, support staff, alumni and loyal fans, that we will get there together.”

Purcell’s first season at the helm was 1989.

Though they’re traveling, Laurens and Clinton are involved in holiday basketball tournaments this week.

The Laurens boys (3-8) are taking part in the Emerald FCA Classic in Greenwood, taking on Saluda on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Emerald on Thursday at 6:30 and Ninety Six on Friday at 5.

Both Clinton teams are playing in the Carolina Invitational at James Island High School in Charleston. The 4-4 boys are facing Willow Spring (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) on Thursday at 3:15 p.m., George C. Marshall (Falls Church, Va.) on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and Berkeley (Moncks Corner) on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

The 7-3 girls take on Worthington Kilbourne (Columbus, Ohio) on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., Christ Church (Greenville) on Friday at 2:15 and host James Island on Saturday at 2:15.

Presbyterian College is home for the weekend.

On Saturday, the 7-7 men take on Johnson & Wales (6-5) at 2 p.m. On Sunday, the women (8-6) take on Columbia College (8-6), also at 2.

Columbia College is the Koalas. It might be worth going just to see Koalas play.

PC has already played Columbia International. Now Columbia College, which proves they are not the same.

Clinton is playing on Jan. 8 at Columbia High. There seems to be an odd convergence of Columbias.

Do you ever spend half a bowl game wondering where it is?

Sometimes announcers go to commercials by saying “we’ll step aside,” when really it’s the fans watching on TV who step aside. I expect only fans watch early bowl games.

The pace is picking up. I’ve noticed that several teams playing Wednesday have suspiciously winning records.

Happy New Year. I’m cautiously optimistic. It couldn’t possibly be worse. Oh, wait. There’s an election.

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