HooverSun.com
May 2017 • C5
Sports Will Smith exceeds 300 wins with Jags
Speaking of his relationship with players and assistant coaches over the years, Smith said, o me, that’s what it’s a out. t’s not a out a num er.” Photo by Ted Melton.
By K Y L E P ARM L EY From becoming a head coach at 25 years of age and conducting five hour practices Spain Park High School baseball coach ill Smith has learned a great deal in 13 years. That time has been long enough for Smith to accumulate 300 ins as coach of the Jags a milestone that forced him to re ect on the many people ho have passed through the shado of the Spain Park dugout and spent countless days in the bleachers. t makes you think back on the many differ ent assistant coaches that you’ve had ith you the many different families the many different players and the administration that’s supported me for 13 years Smith said. hen you start thinking about it from that aspect it makes it very cool. Spain Park’s 7 in over Bob Jones in the opening game of the early season Birming ham Huntsville Challenge marked Smith’s 300th in at Spain Park the only head coach ing ob he has had in his career. Casey Dunn started the Spain Park baseball program upon the school’s opening in 2001 and as there for three years before becoming the Samford coach a position he still holds today. During his third and final season at Spain Park Smith came aboard his staff.
as 2 years old at the time and asn’t ready to be a head coach Smith said ith a laugh. The move orked out pretty ell for the Jags’ program in the long run ith many suc cessful seasons along the ay including in ning the 201 Class A state championship and exceeding 30 ins four times. The team has notched a inning season every season Smith has been the skipper. ith that success comes other opportuni ties along the ay but Smith has rebuffed any chances or re uests. He has found a home at Spain Park and constantly feels the backing of his superiors. y family really connects ith this com munity Smith said. love the school. love
the academic side of it. e couldn’t have done it ithout great support of administrators. Smith had no idea ho long he ould be at Spain Park ho many 2 year olds actually have a long term plan and said he still does not kno hat the future holds. But he is cer tainly comfortable in his position and counts his blessings on a daily basis. hen you get your first head coaching ob at Spain Park High School it’s tough to move up in the high school ranks from that he said. As far as those long practices go those are a thing of the past. hen Smith started at Spain Park he as only engaged ith no children. o he and his ife Brooke have three chil dren Brody llison and iller to chase around.
thought ’ve got to start orking smarter ’ Smith said. hen you’re in this business this long you have to change things up. f not it becomes very stagnant for myself and for my assistant coaches as ell. The ay e practice and the ay e game plan has changed. ou’ve got to change and be exible ith it. hile the current and future players on’t get to experience those kinds of practice ses sions players past and present are hat make the ob special for Smith. e’ve obviously had a lot of good players in our program over these 13 years and also the relationships that e’ve had ith the assistant coaches Smith said. To me that’s hat it’s about. t’s not about a number.