Miami Senior High Mourns Loss Of Beloved Football Coach

MIAMI, FL —Miami Senior High School students are mourning the loss of beloved football coach Corey Smith, who was shot to death Monday inside his northwest Miami-Dade home.

"Thank you Coach Smith for two decades of service to @MDCPS students. Your untimely death will undoubtedly leave a huge void in the lives of those you positively impacted," Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said on social media. "On behalf of the entire @MDCPS community, condolences to the Smith family. RIP coach."

Detective Angel Rodriguez of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch the 15-year-old son of Lamar Alexander, one of two suspects killed in last December's hijacking of a UPS truck, was inside the coach's home at the time of Monday's shooting and has been questioned by homicide investigators. The hijacking followed an armed robbery at Regent Jewelers in Coral Gables.

"We are in the process of determining the familial connection between the 15-year-old and the victim," Rodriguez said on Tuesday.

David Winker, who writes a regular column on high school football for Patch, said the coach's death is sure to be felt by student athletes this year.

"This is a very difficult year for our high school football players, most of whom are not able to play the game they love because of the pandemic," Winker said. "Coach Smith was a successful coach — he went 9-4 in his inaugural season at his alma mater Miami High — and has been making a difference for our kids for two decades."

In a January 2019 interview with WQAM radio shortly after being named head coach, Smith told host Larry Blustein he was looking forward to returning to his alma mater.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be able to go back home," Smith said at the time. "I'm returning home now."

The 46-year-old Smith was killed shortly after 9:30 a.m. at his home in the 2000 block of NW 97 Street. He was pronounced dead by first responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Miami-Dade police said they were called to the home after receiving reports of gunfire. They found Smith suffering from apparent gunshot wounds when they arrived.