Former Clarke Central High School assistant varsity girls basketball coach Stefan Smith directs players at the varsity girls basketball senior night game against Loganville High School on Jan. 25, 2019. Smith will be taking over as the boys varsity basketball head coach during the upcoming 2020-21 school year.“ (The players) know the goals and after talking with them they all seem like they’re ready to put in the work,” Smith said. Photo by Luna Reichert
Clarke Central High School girls basketball assistant coach Stefan Smith has been named the boys varsity basketball head coach following the departure of Andre McIntyre.
Staffer Micah Shannon: What made you decide to make the move to Cedar Shoals High School (in 2015), and did you learn anything new about coaching there? How would you compare the experience of coaching at Clarke Central High School to Cedar?
Head boys varsity basketball coach Stefan Smith: (Cedar Shoals High School) was able to make the Final Four for three years straight, we actually went to the state championship game in 2017. I helped make a big impact at Cedar’s basketball program. Before I got there, they were 12-14. I’m not saying I’m the sole reason that happened, but I helped make a culture change. Talking about Central Central, I coached there from 2001 to probably 2013. We were able to do a lot, (we) had a lot of success. I coached JV, I had a good experience. I learned a lot during that. Then when I went to Cedar I was able to kind of take some of the things I learned from my basketball coach (Billy Wade). He was fired in 2010. Once I went to Cedar, I was able to kind of pick up the things I learned and me and (Cedar Shoals High School head basketball) coach (L’Dreco) Thomas were able to put those things together. And wow, a lot of success there.
MS: I’m sure a head coach position is pretty alluring. Did anything else motivate you to come back to Central other than the new position?
SS: Yeah, the love of developing young men and developing traditional winning programs. So that was motivating to me. Being an example for youth in this community because I grew up in this community. So I’ve got a lot of rich history and deep roots in this community. And I’m happy to help those guys, molding them into decent fathers and good men.
MS: Building on that, the ODYSSEY interviewed you a few years ago and you talked about how you think athletics can be a way to instill values and successful tendencies. I was wondering if you could elaborate on that?
SS: Perseverance, (when you) talk about perseverance, you’re talking about patience, work ethic, good qualities that people develop with athletics, bring about a lot in you, teaches you things. A “never-give-up” mentality. Those types of things to help athletes. Teamwork, how to be a good team member.
MS: You worked with coach McIntyre for a few years. Are there any differences in the way that you coach that you think might be a challenge as you move into the new leadership position?
SS: I don’t see any challenge. He has his way of doing things, I have my way of doing things. I was the head JV football coach, so my mentality is of course going to be different because I’m the head of the program now. So my mentality will be an example for the rest of the program. But the overarching theme of our program is gonna be teamwork, together everyone achieves more. That will be the overall, overarching theme of our program, that we’re a team. Everybody is involved, everybody’s important, whether you’re the 12th man, you’re the manager or you’re the field guy. Everybody’s important in this program and if we work together everyone achieves more.
MS: Since you’ve coached for both CSHS and CCHS, how do you feel about the cross-town rivalry?
SS: Me and coach Thomas are friends, so it’s gonna be interesting because we coached together for three years, we had a lot of (time) together he went to Cedar Shoals when we were younger, so I’ve known him since we were like nine years old, maybe 10. We played football against each other. He played with the Metro Cowboys. I played with the Colts. When we were older he played at Cedar Shoals, I played basketball at Clarke Central. He played football at Cedar Shoals. We’ve known each other for a long time and we both understand it. We’re talking about it. We play golf together. We’ve been on couples retreats together, our wives are friends. So it’s a “frenemy” rivalry, I guess you would say. But I think we both understand what’s at stake. Coaching-wise, we better understand the rivalry. I show the kids that you can do your best and still be friends with somebody. It’s not that serious, you know what I mean? It’s gonna be real friendly. But see, coach Thomas and I are not real friendly guys when it comes down to competition. That’s gonna be the difference.
MS: I can’t really have this interview without asking you about how the COVID-19 situation is going to affect basketball, I was wondering if you had plans should it be an issue?
SS: I’ll just follow the lead of (Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward). I’m going to follow those guidelines. He tells me right now, football can start on June 8. I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be able to do one on ones with you know, a June (practice) because that’s when you kind of build your team — summer tells what the winner does. We’re in a tough position because we don’t have an opportunity to have our guys compete against other teams, that kind of thing, we’re gonna behind the gun a little bit. And I just want everybody to be patient. We’re gonna work through it. And hopefully, hopefully we’ll have a season.
MS: I know you’ve coached with a lot of people: Wade, McIntyre and Carla Johnson, what are some aspects of their leadership that you try to incorporate into your own coaching?
SS: Billy Wade had a care for the community. A different type of care. He didn’t even cut players, he gave everybody an opportunity to be a part of something. I think people appreciate that. He cared a lot about our community and building kids to be good people and feel a part of something and feel special. (McIntyre and I) had a good relationship, we both had a passion for the game. But learning wise, I learned a lot from being on the (Amateur Athletic Union) circuit. I learned a lot about talent, different levels of talent. I got a chance to work with a guy named Gary Graham to learn about what colleges are looking for. So going out on the road and for example, I saw Andrew Wiggins when he was a young kid playing and you know, I could see the difference in how he became a professional. He carried himself like a professional in high school. You can see the talent level and the differences in the youth of today when you go on the road. (Coach Johnson taught me) patience. Coaching girls and boys is different, but I learned a lot about repetition. She taught me a lot about repetition and doing drills, make sure they got it. But it’s a difference. Yes, that’s the thing. I learned a lot more in those aspects. She’s a real patient coach. She doesn’t yell a lot, but she gets her point across in various ways.
MS: Do you have any long-term goals in terms of program building or expansion that you’re willing to talk about?
SS: Right now I’m really focused on getting the alumni back involved, both physically and financially. We’ve already had a couple of meetings where we’re going to start a foundation. A lot of things in the works. We want to get the locker room ready. We’re trying to work on those types of things. I’m in the opening phase of hiring a staff, that’s really what I’m focused on right now, getting good staff around me that I can count on to be loyal. Not just to me but to the program. I want everybody at the games, I want you to come to the games to support the young men. It’s not about the coach, it’s about those young men that are playing. I want the school to be proud. I hope that everybody, when they go out into the community, can be proud of the basketball team at Clarke Central. That’s what we want to try to do. But long term, I’m thinking I want people to graduate from high school. I want people to have a goal when they leave, go to college, the military or to the workforce. That’s the main goal, and also placing in championships. That’s the bottom line.
MS: All right. Anything else you’d like to add?
SS: We’re actually, on a Saturday, working on getting the system in place for our basketball program from high school to middle school. Our middle schoolers are the most important thing right now in basketball. I want you to know that and I want you to put that in writing. Clarke Middle (School) and Burney Harris Lyons, they’re very important. I have two experienced coaches in those areas, Robert Mac and Omar Reed. I’m very proud that they’re there. They were actually on the staff with me when we worked with Billy Wade. So I have two coaches that understand and know what I want to see out of those young men. So the most vital part right now is eighth grade and ninth grade. Those guys coming up into ninth grade. That’s important. I want them to know that they are highly important.
