Football
will take care of itself
Dr. Lawrence E. Smith has devoted his life to turning football fields into classrooms of character, resilience, and leadership. His groundbreaking book and decades of coaching experience inspire athletes, educators, and leaders to discover what happens when you build culture, trust, and discipline first, the wins follow naturally.
About The Author
Dr. Lawrence E. Smith
Dr. Lawrence E. Smith has spent more than 25 years transforming lives through education, athletics, and public service. As a teacher, mentor, head coach, and longtime School Resource Officer, he has guided hundreds of student-athletes in Baltimore, building programs into championship teams while shaping young people into leaders prepared for life’s challenges. Under his leadership, Dunbar High School football became a model of excellence, capturing 11 state championships and earning a reputation as one of the most respected programs in the state.
His impact, however, reaches far beyond the scoreboard. Dr. Smith has helped send over 100 student-athletes to college on scholarships, ensuring that opportunity matched talent and potential. His dual role as a coach and SRO gave him a unique ability to connect with students both on the field and in the classroom—holding them accountable, keeping them safe, and guiding them toward futures filled with possibility.
Recognized nationally and locally for his leadership, Dr. Smith was named the 2007 National High School Coach of the Year and has also been honored as a Baltimore Ravens Coach of the Year.
A published author, keynote speaker, and educational consultant, Dr. Smith continues to use his platform to demonstrate how sports can be a powerful vehicle for personal growth. His message equips parents, educators, and leaders with tools to inspire resilience, accountability, and excellence in the next generation.
Football Will Take Care of Itself
Dr. Lawrence E. Smith has devoted his life to turning football fields into classrooms of character, resilience, and leadership. His groundbreaking book and decades of coaching experience inspire athletes, educators, and leaders to discover what happens when you build culture, trust, and discipline first, the wins follow naturally.
Building Culture Before Chasing Wins
When most people think of football, they think about strategy, athleticism, and Friday night lights. But ask Dr. Lawrence E. Smith, and he’ll tell you that none of those matter without one thing: culture.
Culture is the invisible force that shapes everything a team does. It’s the belief system that drives how players show up to practice, how they respond to setbacks, and how they treat one another when no one is watching.
In his years of coaching, Dr. Smith found that once the right culture was in place, built on discipline, trust, and brotherhood, the wins began to follow naturally. That’s the essence of Football Will Take Care of Itself. Coaches, parents, and leaders can all learn from this: if you build people first, performance will always rise.
Discipline and Freedom: The Paradox That Works
Discipline and freedom might sound like opposites, but in Dr. Smith’s world, they go hand in hand. A disciplined team is not one that feels restricted, it’s one that feels empowered.
When young people learn to show up on time, give their best effort, and stay accountable to their teammates, they actually experience a greater sense of freedom. Why? Because discipline removes chaos. It creates stability. And within that stability, players find confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Dr. Smith argues that this lesson isn’t just for athletes. It’s for anyone who wants to succeed. Whether in business, family, or education, structure and accountability don’t limit us—they free us to reach our full potential.
Brotherhood Beyond the Field
For many of Dr. Smith’s players, football wasn’t just a sport, it was family. Coming from diverse backgrounds, some with limited support systems, the team became a brotherhood that carried them through challenges both on and off the field.
In Football Will Take Care of Itself, he shares stories of players who built lifelong bonds, supporting one another through college, careers, and even parenthood. This brotherhood, forged in sweat and perseverance, demonstrates that sports at their best are about more than games, they are about relationships that endure.
Dr. Smith’s message is clear: when leaders invest in building real connection, they don’t just create teams. They create families.
About The Book
Football will take care of itself
This is not just a sports book, it’s a blueprint for growth, leadership, and transformation.
In Football Will Take Care of Itself, Dr. Smith shares the journey of taking a struggling inner-city program and reshaping it into a disciplined, cohesive team. Through real-life stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical insights, he demonstrates how intentional culture-building creates results that extend far beyond the scoreboard.
What You’ll Discover in This Book:
- How to build a winning culture in any environment, even with limited resources.
- The role of discipline and accountability in shaping young men and women into leaders.
- Why teamwork and brotherhood matter more than talent.
- How success on the field translates into success in school, work, and life.
This book is for:
- Coaches seeking to create stronger teams.
- Parents who want to understand the hidden life lessons in sports.
- Leaders and educators who believe culture shapes outcomes.
- Anyone who wants to be inspired by the power of mentorship and resilience.