Asbury University

Stanton Smith (Associate Head Coach: 1st Year)

Coaching Mission:

• My goal as a coach is to instill a love for the game in my players so they will want to stay around the game their whole lives. That involves investing in them as people first and showing them what servant leadership truly means.

Education:

• Bachelor's from Johnson University in Knoxville, Tenn.
• UEFA C License, USSF C License
• Master's in High Performance Football from the MBP School of Coaches in Barcelona.

Coaching Experience:

• A native of Paris, Ky., Stanton arrived at Asbury after successful stops at the FC Barcelona Academy, Transylvania University and Georgetown College, and most recently University of Kentucky.
• He first joined the University of Kentucky as Director of Soccer Operations in 2022 before being promoted to Assistant Coach ahead of the 2023 season. During his first season with UK, Stanton helped guide the group to a 15-1-5 record during 2022, a season that resulted in being the #1 team in the NCAA tournament, a regular season championship, as well as the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship.
• Following the amazing season, the staff was named the United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year. In 2023, Stanton helped guide the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they ultimately fell to the National Runner Up, Notre Dame.
• After UK, Stanton joined Asbury WSOC in the Fall of 2025 where he helped Coach Zach Welch guide the team to their first double digit win season since joining the NCAA, as well as, first conference tournament championship berth.

Personal:

• Stanton was a dual-sport athlete in college (basketball and soccer) at Johnson University.
• Favorite scripture: Romans 6:3-7.
• His hobbies include spending time with family, watching professional football (mainly FC Barcelona), acquiring more tattoos, going to the cinema, and golfing.
• Stanton currently resides in Nicholasville, KY, with his wife, Emily and three kids, Bentley, Lionel, and Lily.