Athletics
Sports Profiles
Rick Smith
Head Coach Rick Smith enters his 19th year coaching in
the MCCAA conference and is the senior coach
within the conference. This will be his third
year with the Jets program. Coach Smith left his
duties at St. Clair County Community College
where he compiled a winning record during his
tenure. In his first two years at Jackson he has
won 56 games and has received a bid both years
to the Region XII tournament in Battle Creek.
Coach Smith's overall record stands at 410-375
after the 2008 season, a year in which he
celebrated his 400th win. His coaching career
where he started as an assistant at Grand Valley
State University. During his five years at GVSU,
the Lakers won two conference titles and
finished as high as sixth in the nation.Coach Smith began his college career as a Skipper at St. Clair County Community College, playing under coaching legend Dick Grouch. He then transferred to GVSU where he was an all conference selection. He was a captain his senior year and that team won the GLIAC title with an overall 32-11 record.
A graduate of Marysville High School, Coach Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree from GVSU and continued his education at Western Michigan University where he received a minor in health education and his teachers' certification in health education and physical education. In 1998 Coach Smith completed his master's degree in athletic administration from Wayne State University.
The 2009 Jets have 14 sophomores compiling the 31-player roster. "This year's team has the attitude to get better, not just saying they're good, but knowing they have to work. We again will take one game at a time but the goals will be hefty," Smith said. Finally, in year three he has his recruiting class where he wants it after building a new program to where it is today and where it will be in the future. The Jets have already put together four sophomores signing early on to four-year schools and more sophomores and more sophomores to add to that list.
Coach Smith and his wife, Elly, reside in Adrian along with their two wonderful children Laura, 8, and Hunter, the batboy, 13.
