St. Pius X has hired Matt Smith and Pam Zaring as the new head coaches for the boys basketball and girls soccer teams, the school announced June 26.
Smith succeeds Chris Miller in the basketball post and Zaring takes over for longtime Lancer coach Aaron Portell, who has moved across town to Festus to coach the Tigers’ girls basketball team.
Smith, 32, lives in Mehlville with his wife, Lauren, their 2-year-old son and a baby girl due in August. Smith played guard on the basketball team at Normal High in Bloomington, Ill., and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jefferson boys team under Sean Breeze, who has taken over as activities director at Grandview.
Smith also works in information technology for a company in St. Louis. He doesn’t plan to teach at St. Pius but is a certified substitute teacher.
“I feel like my skills as a coach have grown significantly in my three years at R-7,” Smith said. “It was a quick climb, but I think I earned every opportunity. I think the confidence St. Pius has in me reflects on my ability.
“I learned a lot from Coach Breeze and it fueled my passion to help mold character traits and values for them (Lancers) to be successful in life. You will see some of Coach Breeze in me. He’s a little more vocal than me, but we have the same expectations out of kids. We’ll be very gritty and bring our lunch pail to work.
“The kids will play a different kind of basketball. We’ll be old-school. We’ll be a team that reminds people of the old days. It won’t just be about the 3-ball.”
St. Pius finished 15-12 overall last season, including a 4-1 mark for second place in its final campaign as a small-schools member of the Jefferson County Activities Association. The Lancers, expelled by a vote of conference membership earlier this year, will now play as an independent program.
And they’ll do it without the graduated Patrick Flanagan and John Whitman, who combined for 33 of the team’s average 57 points last season.
“So far, (with) what I know about the schedule, I’m excited to challenge our young men and get outside of our comfort zone,” Smith said. “There were some (winnable) games Pius didn’t win last year and the challenges you prepare for get you ready for those games – and when it matters the most at the end of the year.
“We’re a young team, but I think we’re hungry and determined. We have sophomores and freshmen who are a very skilled group. I’ve only been here a week, (but) I do think there will be some senior and junior leadership.”
In a press release, St. Pius activities director Tilden Watson said Smith prioritizes mentorship and long-term development of players both as individuals and athletes.
“Coach Smith combines on-court skills with off-court life lessons, benefiting local college-level players,” Watson said. “His experience in business and fundraising will ensure sustainable growth and success for our program.
“Constantly seeking knowledge to enhance his coaching and leadership skills, Coach Smith has learned from both small and large school coaches who exemplify success and leadership. His commitment to continuous improvement is a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy.”
Zaring and her husband, David, live in Hillsboro and own an insurance agency in Fenton. Their son, Connor, will be a freshman at St. Pius. The Zarings took a tour of the school about the time Portell announced he was leaving.
“We are most excited about the culture,” she said. “I like the way (St. Pius) teaches and prepares kids for their next step in education.
“It’s a little sentimental. God opened a door. I was shadowing Connor and organically it came up because (Portell) was leaving. I helped with camp and helped with the girls. Stepping back onto the field, I fell in love being back on the pitch.”
Zaring played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Toledo from 2002 to 2006 and was a four-year letter winner. Her senior year, she earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.
After college, Zaring was the head coach at Saint Peter’s High in Mansfield, Ohio, and an assistant at Columbus State University in Georgia in 2008-2009. She’s held numerous club coaching positions in Kentucky and Ohio.
“Her passion for the sport and commitment to her players have been evident throughout her career,” Watson said.
Zaring takes over a soccer team that, like the boys basketball team, graduated its top two scorers; Emily Vatterott and Natalie Pate combined for 31 goals. But the Lancers had scoring throughout the lineup with 16 players scoring two or more goals. The Miller sisters – senior Maddi and juniors Abby and Emma – return along with senior goalkeepers Kadyn Gottman and Mary Hrdlicka.
The Lancers, 19-4 last year, were shut out by former JCAA rival Perryville in the Class 2 District 1 final. St. Pius was second in the state in Class 1 in 2022.
Zaring describes herself as a hard-nosed coach.
“I was a passionate player and coach,” she said. “(As for) my style, I like fast-paced, one-two touch, and focusing on not just possessing the ball but finishing. From what I’ve seen, there’s so much to work with. It’s a dream team and I want to take them to the next step.”
“Her extensive experience, leadership, and passion for soccer make her the perfect fit for our program,” Watson said. “We are confident that she will inspire and lead our girls soccer team to new heights.”