Yes, they need Christ and they hear Christ daily and weekly. Our ministry is plant ing seeds."
'r
hat ministry without question is a major part of the Oak Hill Academy tradition past and present, but for more than two decades the most recognizable face of the school has been its nationally prominent basketball program. In the mid-70s, the school began providing scholarships for players with the intent of generating publicity for the institution that would allract additional tuition-paying students. The early recruits came primarily from large metropolitan areas in the Northeast and were often youngsters who needed a more stable environment. Some were fifth- year high school students who had not yet qualified academically for college scholarshi ps. Needless to say, the Warriors soon began dominating their opponents from the small high schools in the mral regions of Virginia and North Carolina. The schedule was expanded to include stiffer competition, so the high-caliber players continued to be attracted to the Oak Hill program for the chance to improve their basketball ski lls as well as their academic standing. In the fall of 1983, a recent graduate of Asbury College (Kentucky) left a promising job as a banker to become an assistant coach at Oak Hill. After two years, that aspiring young coach moved into the head coach's chair for the WmTiors. Twenty-two years and nearly 700 victories later, Steve Smith is still directing the Oak Hill program and has led it to unprecedented heights. "I never expected to be here for life," Smith says. "I had seen teams from Oak Hill play and knew they had good players, so I looked at it as a good career move. "But I feel like I' m where I'm supposed to be. I enjoy my job as much now, maybe more, than I ever have. Not many people can say that." Smith grew to love sports from his father Winston, an ordained Methodist minister who coached small-college foo tball and basketball in Ohio and California before accepting a faculty position at Asbury, a Christian liberal arts school in Wilmore, Kentucky (near Lexington). The younger Smith began his coaching career at a local private school, serving as head coach of five different teams. When asked to take over two more teams, he resigned in hopes of landing
..,. National treasure: The Oak Hill Academy story is not limited to the Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, area. Steve Smith's Warriors, ranked No. 1 in the land among high school teams at the beginning of the season, are slated for three national TV appearances In 2006-2007. On January 18 on ESPN, the Warriors face another Top 10 school, Simeon High School from Chicago. WEB SITE: www . Spo rtsSpectrum.com
SPORTS SPECTRUM- JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007
39