Smith, who lives at Doctors Point, was looking forward to spend more time fishing.
"I was going to catch some blue cod," he quipped. "I was intending to finish at the end of last year but was encouraged to stay on for another year."
Smith, the regional director of the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association since 2006, was head-hunted by the New Zealand Secondary Schools to take on the new role.
Smith, who will still be based in Dunedin, will start his new job on September 1.
There are 23 regional sports directors in New Zealand and Smith's role will be help them implement the procedures that have worked successfully in Otago.
Since Smith became regional director in Otago participation by pupils in secondary school sport has increased from 6200 to 6900.
Numbers have jumped in all events.
This has reversed the trend tin other parts of the country where pupil participation in sport has declined.
"There has never been any consistent professional development in place for regional directors or sports co-ordinators in schools," Smith said. "My job is to help them to improve their performance."
Smith, who will remain based in Dunedin, has a clear target in his new role.
"We have to influence the sporting agenda in schools. That is the role of the regional directors," Smith said.
The goal is to get more pupils playing sport across New Zealand, by improving coaching and making sure that the delivery of sport is better than it is at the moment.
Smith wants to make it easier for regional sports directors to walk into a principal's office and have a meaningful discussion.
Smith had 27 years teaching experience and was assistant rector at Otago Boys' High School when he became manager of the Edgar Centre in 1995. He spent a decade in various roles with the Otago Rugby Football Union.
"I understood how schools work," Smith said. "The most important thing is to build respect and relationships with the schools."
Smith introduced several innovations into Otago secondary school sport in the six years he has been in the role.
"One of the reasons they asked me to come on board is to roll out some of the initiatives that that been successful in Otago," Smith said.
"They keep asking me why the environment is so positive and why the numbers of kids playing sport continues to increase.
"The secret is to get everyone going in the same direction and involving the community in schools."
One of the keys for this was to introduce the sports councils, with community people, into 18 of the 23 Otago secondary schools.
"The whole environment in Otago school sport has been one happy family and this is why we have continued to grow," Smith said.
He has received the co-operation of Otago principals, who believe that sport is important in developing well-rounded pupils.
"Kids get attracted to well organised competitions and events. If they are well run, they will want to be part of it."
Smith appreciated the support he has had from the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association management committee, especially its chairman Mike Corkery - who is principal of John McGlashan College - the Otago Polytechnic's Institute of Sport and Adventure and Sport Otago.
Fact File
Des Smith
Family: Raylene (wife), Chris, Nicky, Michael.
Education: King Edward Technical College, University of Otago.
Occupations: Teacher OBHS, manager Edgar Centre, Otago Rugby Football Union, regional director Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association.
New job: Operations manager for NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council.
