Chris Smith never imagined he’d still be roaming the sidelines as a head football coach at Grove City College after 31 years.

“It was something I never really gave that much thought to,” said Smith, a 1972 graduate of Grove City College. “I never thought about 31. I don’t think anyone really does. Most coaches are hoping to hang on for a couple more years and keep everyone happy. It’s been a great run. It’s a great institution and I’ve gotten so much support from so many people. It doesn’t seem like 31. It’s still a lot of fun.”

Smith is the longest-tenured coach in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and is often referred to as “The Dean.”

And he’s seen football change drastically over the last three decades.

From the way the game is played on the field, how players are treated off of it and even how they prepare in the offseason, it’s an entirely new experience.

“Thirty years ago if a young man came to me and said, ‘I have a speed trainer and a strength trainer that I work with in the summer,’ I would have been like, ‘You’re kidding, right?’”

On the field, things have also morphed.

The game is much faster. Teams spread things out more and run more hurry-up. Players are bigger and faster.

Smith, too, has evolved his thinking over time. His teams over the years have run the ball 50 times per game in the R.J. Bowers days and have thrown the ball 30 times per game in the Andrew DiDonato years.

Smith said part of his longevity has been he and his coaching staff’s ability to mold an offense and defense to the personnel.

“It’s ever-evolving. We have evolved quite a bit actually,” Smith said. “We still have our roots. The big thing is, I’m not a big flavor-of-the-month guy. I have to feel confident that we actually know what we’re doing. You can’t go to a clinic, listen to a speaker for an hour and a half, and then run that offense.

“Our offensive philosophy is not dictated by what should we do,” Smith added, “but what can we do.”

Usually that has meant running the ball.

Behind R.J. Bowers, who became the first running back in NCAA history to gain more than 7,000 career yards on the ground, Grove City was a juggernaut, winning PAC titles in 1997 and 1998.

In 1997, the Wolverines won nine games and Smith was rewarded with the American Football Coaches Association, the Metropolitan New York Writers Association and PAC Coach of the Year.

Smith has a 122-166-2 career record.

Many of his former players have gone on to coach, including Sam Mowrey across the street at Grove City High.

Mowrey, who played for Smith from 2000-03, said he learned much more from the coach off the field.

“I thought I knew how to be a leader,” Mowrey said. “I remember vividly the conversations I had with Coach Smith about what it really meant to be a leader. When I graduated, I thanked him for all those honest conversations we had. Those are things I try to pass on to these kids now.”

Smith said it is very satisfying to have so many former players now serving as coaches. Two of his former players, Matt Gregg and Todd Gibson, are on his staff now.

“I’m sure there were players who were really happy to have Coach Smith as their coach,” Smith said. “And some who were not so happy. That’s human nature. But it is nice to have so many coaching in high school and college. That’s rewarding.”

Smith has also been blessed with consistency with his assistants.

Defensive coordinator Rob Skaricich and offensive coordinator Jim Chinn have been with Smith for more than 12 years.

“That may be one of the most underrated qualities of a program,” Smith said.

The coach has not put an expiration date on his days on the sideline.

He said he is just as energetic about coaching now as he was in that very first game.

“We’re still having fun,” Smith said. “It’s work, you have to work hard, but it’s enjoyable work.”