Eric Smith- Coach's Kid

Eric Smith is presently the head boys coach at Alton High School. He grew up in Iowa as a coach’s son. He was a long-time assistant at Galesburg HS and also at Monmouth College. He was good at what he did, and he seemed to be comfortable as an assistant coach.

Years ago, when I was looking at a different job, my mother commented that every time she took a new job, it had been a good decision. I didn’t follow her advice, I guess I am not a risk taker.

After Eric had been in this area for fifteen years, I assumed he would retire here. I was surprised when I found out he was leaving to become the head coach at Alton. But while I was surprised, it made total sense. He was invested in coaching and he was good at what he did. And it would appear that again my mother was right about change- it has been a good decision for Eric.

The best coaches that I know, when you talk to them, you quickly realize there aren’t many things they haven’t thought about ahead of time. The really good coaches seem to be prepared for everything. Eric is one of those coaches. He always has a reason for what he has his team do. When you talk to him, it is obvious he grew up around basketball- he has seen a lot of basketball and talked a lot of basketball. He is prepared and his teams are prepared.

It is obvious as you read Eric’s answers, he is not in this alone. His wife is a big part of the team. The average person has no idea the energy and sacrifice needed to be a coach’s wife.  

Massey-  People don't understand that it is different to be a "coach's kid"- how was good and what was bad about being a coach's kid?

Eric Smith- Being a "Coach's Kid" was incredible.  My father was a College Coach at William Penn for almost my entire childhood.  It was a really neat experience because of the diversity I got to grow up around.  I got to interact with all different types of people from all different types of backgrounds from all over the place.  I think it gave me a little different perspective that maybe some of my childhood friends did not have the opportunity to experience.  It was also great because I got to grow up in a gym.  Being around the practices, games, summer camps was always a fun experience.  I also remember as a kid traveling around with my father to work summer camps across the Midwest.  Getting to go with him to Holiday tournaments recruiting.  Sitting in someone’s living room while he talked to them about what his school could offer them.  This was obviously a big factor in why I decided to get into this profession.  The good part for me was that my dad was a College Coach, not a High School Coach.  I didn't have to deal with the issues that come with a dad Coaching his kid.  

Massey- Now as an adult, how is it good to have have a dad who is a coach to sometimes turn to?

Eric Smith- It is a neat experience to have someone who you trust, that has experienced just about everything out there, to turn to when you need advice.  My dad has been Coaching for over 40yrs.  He has Coached at both the High School and College level.  He has seen just about everything.  In the beginning, we bounced ideas off of each other often.  As we get a little older, the conversations are little more directed towards the Grand-kids.  We live about 5 1/2 hours away from each other.  We don't get to see each other that much because of our Coaching schedules.  When we talk now, it's about 5 minutes of Basketball then the kids Facetime to talk to Grandma and Grandpa.  I still do get a phone call every night that we have a game, and a text or a call every night that his team plays.  

Massey- Personally I thought you had a good gig being an assistant first at Galesburg and then at Monmouth College. To decide to move to Alton to take a head coaching job had to be a big decision. Was it a tough thing to move out of your comfort area and your families comfort zone?

Eric Smith- I had a Great job in Galesburg.  I have been blessed.  I honestly feel like I've been lucky enough to never have had a bad job.  The Coaches that have given me a chance were incredible to me personally and professionally.  I have been extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work for some really good Coaches, but more importantly, some incredible people.  They treated me like family.  When the opportunity came to go to Alton it was tough.  I had been an Assistant Coach for about 15 yrs.  I was very comfortable where I was at and my family loved it in Galesburg.  My wife had a good job and was very happy.  We actually were headed on a family trip to Kentucky when I got the call from Alton to offer me the job.  My wife and I had a nice long conversation on the drive down, and basically she asked me "Do you want to do this?"  I told her "Ya, I want to see if I can do this."  She said "Well then, let’s do it."  We were lucky enough that she would not have a hard time finding a job. She is good a what she does.  So that made the decision it a lot easier.  One of the hardest parts was that we had just had our second child.  Tai (Shout out to Tai Peachey) was only a few months old and Mia was around 2.  We would be moving to a place where we had no family or support system in place. Luckily, Sandy's mother came with us and stayed until we got everything figured out.  We are lucky that we have family on both sides that are supportive.  They both thought we were crazy moving so far away from both sides of our families, but it has all worked out so far.  It was tough to make that decision, but honestly, I knew we would be OK.  My wife keeps everything together, she wouldn't let it not work out on the family side.     

Massey- My impression is that you your wife is very supportive of your career and your team. A lot of people don't know what kind of sacrifice a coach's wife makes. This is really projecting into the future, but if one of your daughters became serious with someone who coached- what advice would you give them? What advice would your wife give them?

Eric Smith- My wife is very supportive.  She is what makes everything work.  She organizes Team meals, takes pictures at games, and is always asking, "what can we do?"  She sacrifices a lot of time and effort to make sure that I can do this.  I think if one of my daughters was interested in a Coach I'd tell her to find a Banker.  My wife would tell her to what to expect.  My wife had to learn on the fly.  She didn't come from a family with a Sports background.  Some of the extra stuff that the average person doesn't get to see or understand, she had to figure out.  Like not yelling back at the person in the stands who is calling me an "idiot."  All the open gyms, lifting, clinics, and summer events we have to do.  She has experienced all of this.  She has a good understanding of what the expectations are for me and what I need to do.  I think she would tell our daughters with all the sacrifices, it's worth it.

Massey- My apologies, after I read the question about your daughters, I realized I should have also asked how you would feel if they wanted to go into coaching!

Massey- Young people who want to go into coaching- what don't they know about coaching? What advice would you give them?

Eric Smith- I think one of the biggest issues is people don't want to spend the time working their way up and learning their craft.  A lot of guys think they are ready.  My first real job was Head Coach at Union High School for the Girl's program.  I was not ready.  After the season, I stepped down and took a position as an Assistant Coach for the Boy's program.  I worked under Galen Noard.  He was mostly known as a football guy, but he was an incredible basketball coach because he was an outstanding teacher.  That showed me I had a lot to learn and I believed I could learn and grow more from his experience.  I have had an incredible opportunity to work for some really good teachers of the game.  Coach Noard, Chuck Grant, Jeff Houston, Mark Vershaw, Mike Reynolds are the people that have given me an opportunity to learn from them.  Each one did things differently.  They had different styles, different approaches, and different thought processes.  This was a huge benefit to me in learning how I wanted to be when I got another opportunity to be a Head Coach.  I got to experience many different things that I believed would help me become ready when the time came again. I use things each one of them incorporated in their programs today.  You can come watch an Alton High basketball game and point out certain things that each one of them taught me.  Too many guys just want the opportunity.  My advice would be for them be patient.  Don't take the first opportunity if it's not a good fit.  Learn your craft, learn how to coach.  Get as much experience from as many different people as you can. I just had an old player from my first year at Alton come to me this summer and tell me he wanted to be a Coach.  He had been a volunteer and the Head Sophomore Coach in our program the last couple years.  Our talk was about how he needed to get out and experience different things from different people.  He only knew what we had taught him.  Our drills, our offense, our sets.  If he really wanted this as his chosen profession then he needed to leave us and go get some experience.  He got an opportunity to be a Student Assistant at a very successful NAIA Div. 1 school.  They are preseason number 1 this year.  He will get exposed to many different things that will only help his development and make him become a better coach.  It will also put him in a better position to be ready when it is his time.  

Massey-  Was your dad as a coach excited about you going into coaching?

Eric Smith- I think so.  I think my mom was more excited.  My dad was not the stereotypical Dad in that position.  I never remember coming home after a game and talking about the game unless I brought it up.  All he wanted was his kids to find something they enjoyed.  He never pushed us in a certain direction athletically.  He let us make our own decisions and just wanted us to be happy with what we chose to do.   

Massey-  I know you are a PE teacher, but have you ever interviewed for a social studies job? Do you want to share how that happened?

Eric Smith- I figured this would come up somehow.  I know this is one of your favorite stories.  When I was at Galesburg we had a Principal who could not tell Jake Miller and I apart.  One time she was handing out contracts for the next school year to sign and she gave me his and said "Here Jake, sign this and return it please."  Jake was teaching WECEP at GHS and a position in the History Department opened up.  He got an interview and was all excited.  Little did he know, ol' Coach Massey had a plan.  I was working a basketball camp at the high school when Coach Massey came in and said since the Principal couldn't tell us apart, why don't you come in and interview for Jake.  We proceeded to walk into the office for the interview.  I was dressed very professionally.  The same thing I have worn almost everyday for the last 25 yrs.  (Shorts and a T-shirt)  We proceeded into the office, I plopped down in the chair and said "Let's get this shit started!"  Sharon Gonzalez was in the interview and about fell out of her chair when I walked in.  She had no idea what was going on, but knew something was up.  The principal looked at me kind of puzzled and said "OK, then."  I started laughing, and she knew something was off.  She must have figured it out.  I assume that cause as I walked out she called me a couple names.  Family friendly blog, right?  As I walked out of the office, Jake was coming in.  I said "Good Luck, I don't know if this is gonna end well for you."  Needless to say, he must have impressed her more than I did, cause he got the job and is still there today.

Massey-  Galesburg HS, Monmouth College, Alton HS-- what does a coach need to do to build a successful program?

Eric Smith- I think each place is a little different.  Here at Alton, I think Trust and building relationships with our kids is the most important thing.  I have had this conversation often.  There are some incredible Coaches in our Conference.  I would argue that the Southwestern Conference is one of the best 4A conferences in the State.  With that being said, I tell people all the time, we have won some games because we have been able to get our kids to believe in us, and for the most part, to play hard for us.  We don't win games because I am smarter or a better Coach than the other guys in our Conference.  We have had some success, because we have good players and they play their butts off for us.  I believe they do this because they know I will do anything for them.  I believe in them, I care about them, and I will do whatever I need to see them be successful on and off the court.

Massey- When you come back to Galesburg- where do you want to eat?

Eric Smith- Pizza House and LaGondola.  Miss those lunches with Zo, Reynolds, and Swanny.

Massey- What advice would you give to a JH player who says they want to be a basketball player?

Eric Smith- We tell our kids Skill Development and Strength.  I tell our Junior High Coaches to teach them how to dribble, pass, shoot, and play unselfish.  We will take care of the rest.