WESSON - A familiar face returns to the coaching sidelines as Brenda Smith takes over as the coach for the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolfpack tennis team. She replaces legendary Coach Mike McIntyre who led the Wolfpack for 35 years.
"We are very fortunate to have someone of Coach Smith's caliber to take over our men's tennis program," said Co-Lin President Dr. Ronnie Nettles. "Her coaching credentials speak for themselves. I'm confident she will continue the long, successful tradition of our men's tennis program. All of our coaches understand they have a tremendous responsibility to carry on a tradition of athletic success at Co-Lin."
Smith coached the Lady Wolves tennis team for nine years (1997-2005) compiling an overall record of 110-19 including six consecutive trips to the NJCAA National Tournament. Her teams won 21 individual state championships, two team championships and sixteams ranked nationally. Five of those teams also placed in the top two NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year with the 1999, 2003 and 2004 teams recognized as the top Academic Team of the Year. Four players earned NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American honors and seven NJCAA Academic All-Americans.
"I'm excited to return to coaching tennis," said Smith. "For the past eight years I've enjoyed watching my sons play football, baseball, soccer and tennis. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything, but now I can fully focus on coaching again."
With only one returning player, Smith has been hot on the recruiting trail signed Brandon Nettles of Wesson High School, Coleman Carraway of Brandon High School and Graham Watson of Brookhaven Academy to next year's squad.
Her teams are known for being intense competitors who love the game, they are fit and knowledgeable about match strategies.
Smith was selected Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2002 and served as the President of the NJCAA Women's Tennis Coaches Association for four years. A U.S. Professional Tennis Association certified teaching tennis professional, she was inducted into the Cloud County Community College (KS) Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and was a 2013 inductee into the Mississippi College Sports Hall of Fame for basketball, tennis and softball. Smith retired from coaching in 2006, to watch her sons compete athletically on the junior high through junior college level.
A member of the Co-Lin staff as an instructor and chairperson to the Heath and Physical Education Division from 1996-2008, Coach Smith has served as Dean of Student Services since 2008.
A graduate of Cloud County Community College (KS), Smith received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Mississippi College in Clinton. She and her husband, Steve, are the parents of two sons, Matt and Josh. Matt was a two-year starter for the Wolfpack baseball team and Josh is a member of the Wolfpack tennis team. They are active members of Wesson Baptist Church. |
