Greer Middle College David Smith talks about why he is coaching and the sport prior to his SCTCCCA Hall of Fame induction during Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic Sept. 12.
Name: David L. Smith
Years coaching: 35 years total, 26 in S.C.
What made you decide to become a coach?
I taught a college class when I was working on my MBA, I enjoyed it and kept going with it, that got me into Education.. My High School Football Coach, Hugh Hamilton, had a huge influence in my life and gave me my first job coaching football, wrestling and track right out of college, if it weren’t for him I probably wouldn’t have played in college where I was fortunate to be among a select group of men who played for Coach Bob Waters at Western Carolina University. Both these men not only taught me the game, but more importantly how to treat people and develop relationships.
Smith builds a top program at Greer Middle College (2013)
Looking back at your time as a coach, what do you remember the most?
Wow, that’s tough! I’ve loved everything I’ve ever been able to do as a coach. I’ve been at some great schools, with great kids and with tremendous community support. I love watching my kids celebrate wins and victories because I know how hard they worked to get there. I’ll have to admit this past year has been pretty awesome! Watching my guys pull together and win the first team State Championship in school history and having the opportunity to coach Micah Williams, the S.C. Gatorade XC Runner of the Year ranks way up there as unforgettable memories.
What does it mean to be a hall of fame inductee?
What an honor! I never really thought that much about it until I was actually selected and then seeing the guys in our sport that are in the HOF really made me realize how special this is. It really means a lot to me that two coaches that I admire and respect, Jeremy Darby and Eric Cummings, nominated me for this honor.
What do you think needs to happen in the sport?
I think the first thing that needs to happen is that we get somebody in the SCHSL office that is forward thinking enough to make some changes and realize how much they are thwarting the growth of our sport in S.C. There are several things that our association (SCTCCCA) has asked for over the years that have constantly been rejected by the HSL without any real explanation why. The most glaring is their response to the addition of indoor track. We have always been told no even though athletic directors and principals have voted in favor of it. The recent decision to not allow teams to walk or jog the state meet course the night before the state meet is a knee-jerk reaction to what I understand was a single complaint. On the upside, I’m really looking forward to our association helping to develop a uniform playoff system for everybody now that we are going to five divisions.
SCHSL Executive Committee turns down indoor proposal (2012)
Proposals for 2015 to SCHSL include indoor track
What do you hope each athlete of yours learns from the sport?
It’s not where you start, it’s how you finish! Like my good friend David Farnham used to say: FINISH STRONG! I hope all of my kids realize how much I love them and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives!
How long do you see yourself coaching?
As long as I can! Joel Rice, who I coached with at Greer just received his 50 year service award, I’d kinda like to see if I could make it that long.
What is your motivation to get on the track each day for practice?
Being with my kids! What a great way to spend the afternoon and weekends!
What challenges have you had as a coach?
Over the years I’d say that having kids commit to each other to reach their goals has always been a challenge. Communication with everybody involved in the program is also sometimes difficult. At GMC our biggest challenge is not having any facilities at all, we don’t even have a building, but our kids make the most of running in the “front yard.” Being a Charter School we don’t get fully funded like traditional public schools so we are constantly fundraising to run our programs. Most of our kids take college classes so we have to work around their college schedules as well.
Dan Shonka, David Smith announced as SCTCCCA Hall of Fame inductees
Who will be in attendance in September at the ceremony from your family and friends?
I’d love to see all my former runners there because this honor wouldn’t have been possible without them. My family will be there as well as some of the kids I’ve coached who are coaching now and of course the GMC Blazers.
