Last week, second-year Hodgdon Lady Hawks girls’ varsity basketball coach Olin Quint resigned, citing personal reasons for stepping down. Taking on the challenge of building the program will be Rob Smith, who is the girls’ junior varsity coach.
“When everything happened there was a little bit of shock,” said Smith. “We sat the girls down and talked to them. Now we just want to play basketball.”
Smith’s only stint at coaching a varsity basketball game was last year when Quint had to be away and the Lady Hawks hosted GHCA.
“That was the only experience I had leading up to now,” he said.
With interim head coach stamp, Smith said he would stay on next year at this level if the adminstration approved.
“I think every j.v. coach, hopefully, has that desire to become a varsity coach,” he explained. “If the school wants to keep me around, I would be happy to stay. If not, I would understand and stay committed to our j.v. program.”
But, for now, Smith is just concentrating on teaching the game and finishing the season strong.
“For the most part, we’ve stayed the same,” he said. “But, I will try to play everyone, maybe not a lot, but everyone will get in the game at point or another. I want the girls to get a few minutes of varsity playing time.
“We are sticking with the same plays for now,” Smith added. “But, I’ve added a few of my own in.”
Smith cited the only transition that is tricky is the fact he is coaching both teams now.
“I coach my junior varsity for three quarters and then I have my assistant take over in the fourth so I can get ready for the varsity game,” he said. “Practices are tough since I’m running two instead of one, but preparing for games is a bit easier since we’ve played most of the teams once all ready. But, still the preparation for games is the hardest part right now.”
Smith and his wife Jennifer have two small daughters, so Smith knows he has to prioritize his responsibilities.
“I had always gone to both practices, so that won’t be different,” he said. “I’m not losing time with my family there. But, I tell the girls, not that I don’t love basketball, but when I go home, it’s my family time. My family always came to my games. Now, they come to two instead of just one. I will still make time for my family.”
Smith has incorporated a catchword for his varsity girls — Never give up.
“We want to prove a point we can play basketball,” he said. “We still have things to work on, but the girls seem high-spirited. It’s still hard in the middle of the season to lose a coach, but they seem willing to work. As long as they are willing to work, we will continue to play and hopefully, get some more wins before the end of the season.”
Like most teams, the Lady Hawks’ goal is to reach Bangor.
“We want to put everything behind us and move on,” Smith said. “It’s a new team, a new season and a new coach. I just want the girls to give 100 percent, and win or lose, to keep their heads held high.”
“When everything happened there was a little bit of shock,” said Smith. “We sat the girls down and talked to them. Now we just want to play basketball.”
Smith’s only stint at coaching a varsity basketball game was last year when Quint had to be away and the Lady Hawks hosted GHCA.
“That was the only experience I had leading up to now,” he said.
With interim head coach stamp, Smith said he would stay on next year at this level if the adminstration approved.
“I think every j.v. coach, hopefully, has that desire to become a varsity coach,” he explained. “If the school wants to keep me around, I would be happy to stay. If not, I would understand and stay committed to our j.v. program.”
But, for now, Smith is just concentrating on teaching the game and finishing the season strong.
“For the most part, we’ve stayed the same,” he said. “But, I will try to play everyone, maybe not a lot, but everyone will get in the game at point or another. I want the girls to get a few minutes of varsity playing time.
“We are sticking with the same plays for now,” Smith added. “But, I’ve added a few of my own in.”
Smith cited the only transition that is tricky is the fact he is coaching both teams now.
“I coach my junior varsity for three quarters and then I have my assistant take over in the fourth so I can get ready for the varsity game,” he said. “Practices are tough since I’m running two instead of one, but preparing for games is a bit easier since we’ve played most of the teams once all ready. But, still the preparation for games is the hardest part right now.”
Smith and his wife Jennifer have two small daughters, so Smith knows he has to prioritize his responsibilities.
“I had always gone to both practices, so that won’t be different,” he said. “I’m not losing time with my family there. But, I tell the girls, not that I don’t love basketball, but when I go home, it’s my family time. My family always came to my games. Now, they come to two instead of just one. I will still make time for my family.”
Smith has incorporated a catchword for his varsity girls — Never give up.
“We want to prove a point we can play basketball,” he said. “We still have things to work on, but the girls seem high-spirited. It’s still hard in the middle of the season to lose a coach, but they seem willing to work. As long as they are willing to work, we will continue to play and hopefully, get some more wins before the end of the season.”
Like most teams, the Lady Hawks’ goal is to reach Bangor.
“We want to put everything behind us and move on,” Smith said. “It’s a new team, a new season and a new coach. I just want the girls to give 100 percent, and win or lose, to keep their heads held high.”
