2014 will be Pitching Coach Brian Smith’s second season with the ThunderBolts and his second season coaching at a professional level. He was named Pitching Coach of the ThunderBolts on March 1, 2013 replacing Ehren Wassermann. In 2013 Smith led a staff that finished with the 5th best ERA in the league. 

Smith's coaching resume is at a collegiate level. Brian first stint in coaching was from 2009-10 with the collegiate wood-bat Northwoods League's Madison Mallards as an Assistant Coach. He returned to coaching in 2012 as the Pitching Coach for the University of St. Francis (NAIA) helping the Fighting Saints pitching staff reach the Regional Championships and rank 17th in the country in team ERA. 

Local product Brian Smith, a Chicago Ridge native, played for Richards High School in Oak Lawn. Smith spent his entire collegiate career at Northern Illinois University (NCAA-D1) as both a pitcher and a hitter. He led the Huskies in wins during his freshman season in 2005. Brian was a regular in both the starting lineup and starting rotation during his playing time with the Huskies from 2005-09. During the summers of 2006 and 2007 he played for the Madison Mallards of the collegiate wood-bat Northwoods League. For the Mallards Brian was an All Star in 2006 and led the team in wins in 2007. He was named to Madison's All-Decade team. In 2011 Brian was signed professionally, by current Windy City Field Manager Ron Biga, as a free agent by the Joliet Slammers. He played two seasons at Joliet from 2011-12. 2011 was especially special for Smith as he finished with a ERA of 1.24 in 40 games with opponents hitting .182 against him helping his club win the Frontier League Championship. Brian retired on January 15, 2013.