Johnson State College Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletics Director Miles Smith has won the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year award after revitalizing the program in his first year leading the team.

After struggling early in the season and losing their first 11 games, the Badgers unified as a team and ultimately finished one win shy of making the NAC championship game, losing in the semi-finals to Colby Sawyer College by a score of 99 to 95 in overtime.

Seemingly always humble, Smith credits everyone but himself for his recognition by the NAC. When asked who he attributes his personal success to, he said, “I would first say my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, my family, [and] the group of young men that I have coached.”

Smith also acknowledges his previous coaching mentors, the JSC community, the athletic department, and especially his assistant coaches. “This award really speaks volumes of the coaching staff that I have. I would not have received this award without Josh Reed, Beverlis Robertson, and Braddy Rainville,” he said.

As with most coaches during their first season at a new institution, Smith and his team had numerous obstacles to overcome before they found success. Aside from their 0-11 start, Smith said, “The biggest challenge was trying to get a group of guys to buy in to my style of play. I learned early in the season that yelling and screaming only gets me tired.”

Despite the dreadful first half of the season, the Badgers rebounded and finished with a record of 10 wins and 17 losses thanks to coming together as a team and two key mid-season additions to the roster. “The change came from our student-athletes. They started to begin to trust in one another and really became a family,” said Smith. “I would say the turnaround came when we added Demetrius Slade and Donell Shaw.”

Senior guard Rahim Bunch, who previously played for Smith at Wilson College, enjoyed his coaching style so much that he followed him to JSC. “Despite the slow start, he always kept a positive outlook on the season, making sure everyone was still motivated and believed that we could win. I think that was huge, that he still had faith in us to become good,” said Bunch.

Bunch’s relationship with Smith goes beyond basketball, as they also connected on a human level. “We have a bond and a trust for one another that I never got to experience with any other coach,” said Bunch. “He’s a fun, down-to-earth guy who loves his basketball team, and most importantly, wants to see them succeed in life.” Bunch also added, “I hope others are as fortunate as I was when it comes to being coached by Miles Smith.”

Greg Davis, also a senior guard, plans to enroll in a graduate program at JSC and continue learning from Smith as a graduate assistant. “He is what we call a culture changing coach,” said Davis. “Not only did he change the culture, he also adapted and modified his ways to best suit the team.”

Smith’s ability to shift his style of coaching to better fit the team is a significant part of his success and is an approach that many coaches do not grasp. “The coach does not need to modify his way, but Miles Smith, being the leader and team player he is, changed his way to best suit his team,” Davis added.

According to the athletics department, Smith is the first men’s basketball coach in JSC history to win NAC Coach of the Year, and only the second coach of any sport, following Head Golf Coach Lou Gervais in 2012.

Assistant Athletics Director Elaine Harvey also has great appreciation for Smith and what his work and recognition has done for the college. “It means that our work to change the culture of athletics is coming to life,” she said. “Our coaches work very hard to recruit talented student-athletes for our programs and seeing Miles’ work rewarded is really great. Johnson men’s basketball proved that it can compete within our conference, which means that other programs will believe in that as well.”

Harvey also echoed Bunch’s sentiments on the kind of person and coach Smith is. “Miles cares individually for each of his players. He puts them first in all the decision-making, which has built trust and camaraderie. Miles is also a very professional and calm presence on the court. Referees, players, fans, and other coaches all respect and enjoy working with Miles,” said Harvey.

Although all of Smith’s hard work has paid off so far, he is far from satisfied. “My goal here at JSC is to build a fraternity of leaders. That’s what I plan for the future to hold at JSC,” he said. “When you have a fraternity of leaders and young men that are eager to learn, that’s when you will see consistent success and multiple championships.”

With one strong season at JSC behind him, Smith enters his first full offseason of recruiting and has already added six-foot-five guard/forward Hayden Tomlinson out of Oxbow High School in Bradford, Vermont. With Smith at the helm, the Badgers appear to be on their way to the continued success that has evaded the program for so long.