Coach Smalley retired as a head coach in 2013. His journey started in teaching and coaching in 1978 at Madrid with a two year stint as an Art and Physical Education teacher and head wrestling coach. From 1980-1986 he held the same position at Greene before moving to LeMars where he concluded a 36-year career. His overall coaching record included 263 dual meet triumphs with 247 coming as the coach of the Bulldogs. He was the 3A State Coach-of-the-Year in 1997 after being a six time Northwest Iowa Class 3A Coach-of-the-Year, an honor he won again in 2004. In 1989 at LeMars he was the Class 2A Northwest Iowa Coach-of-the-Year. During his career, Coach Smalley mentored 50 state qualifiers with 25 winning medals. He coached four State Champions, four others who were runner-up, four who took third and five fifth place winners. His 1998 LeMars squad turned in the school's highest finish when they took fourth. In the State Dual Team Tournament, his team qualified twice including a third place performance in 1997. In 1997 he was chosen to coach in the North-South All Star Meet and in 2009 and 2013 coached in the Northwest Iowa Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association All-star Meet. He has been active in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, serving as an officer from 1999-2002 and a multi-year Northwest District representative.