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More on Northwestern boys hoops, Smith’s return
Here’s more on Bill Smith and the Northwestern High School boys basketball team, who were featured in today’s News-Sun:
Ironically, Smith returned to the place he started coaching in the fall of 1968, where he served as the freshman and reserve coach before starting the program at KR in 1977.
He’s joined on the bench by his son, Scott Smith, who also assisted him at Greenon. He was also his point guard at Kenton Ridge in 1992, when the Cougars finished 22-1.
“He understands my system as well as I do,” Smith said.
Smith called the last six years “an interesting layoff.”
“But I don’t think it takes too long to get back in the swing of things when you’re doing something you love,” Smith said.
The last time he returned to coaching, Smith had a young squad at Greenon who eventually matured into a title winning team. His first year, they won just three games, but started two freshmen and two sophomores.
“We had to mature into it,” Smith said. “It wasn’t going to happen when we were freshman and sophomores.”
This season, the Warriors have three strong seniors in Levi Burns, Devon Nicewaner and Seth Meldon.
“Are we as far along as I’d like to be? Absolutely not,” Smith said. “We’re making progress in putting in a system. We think ultimately we can get a program going.”
The biggest issue the Warriors are working through is reverting back to old habits, something Smith knew could be a problem when he took over the program. He’s the third coach in three seasons.
“Under the pressure of a tight game, you have to fall back on your fundamentals, so it’s something you don’t have to think about,” Smith said. “We tend to fall back into some bad habits, which is typical of any team struggling to get themselves in the right direction.”
Over the last two months, Smith said he remembers why he used to lose sleep as a coach.
“I take this to heart,” Smith said. “It becomes a very personal thing.”
The soon-to-be 65-year-old coach is pleased to be back on the sidelines.
“It’s an experience I get to relive one more time and I thank Northwestern for the opportunity,” Smith said.
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