Smelkinson aiming to put community back in HCC

Mike Smelkinson felt like he was a long shot.

When you're 25 years old and have just one year of head coaching experience under your belt, being seriously considered to take over the reins of a college program didn't seem likely.

But Smelkinson, who worked his way to the 2004 boys basketball Player of the Year honor as a senior at Long Reach, saw the Howard Community College men's basketball coaching vacancy as the perfect opportunity.

"When I heard that the job was open, I knew pretty much right away that I had to go for it," he said. "I figured my chances probably weren't that great, but I felt like it really could be a good situation for me and for them. Growing up here, I really wanted that chance to represent for Howard County."

And ultimately, after sifting through a pool of over 50 applicants from all over the country, HCC athletic director Diane Schumacher agreed that Smelkinson was the best man for the job.

"We had a lot of interest in the position, a surprisingly large number of applicants actually, but when it came down to it he really stood out from the group," Schumacher said. "His work ethic and his references really impressed me. He had well beyond the three references that we asked for and from all different areas.

"A lot of people spoke really highly of him."

As for the experience issue, Schumacher says she remembers a time when she was in Smelkinson's shoes.

"I took over a head coaching job at Princeton when I was 24, so I know what it's like to have little or no experience at the college level," she said. "Everyone gets their start somewhere. The key is surrounding him with experienced people that will help smooth the transition."

Aside from Schumacher in an administrative role, Smelkinson will also have the help of assistant coach James Poole, who will be beginning his third year with the team. The duo, along with another assistant or two, will be trying to turn around an HCC team that struggled to a 6-19 record last winter under Randolph Edison Jr.

Rebuilding projects, though, are nothing new for Smelkinson.

Last season he led the Marriotts Ridge boys basketball team to eight wins after going winless the year before he arrived as head coach.

"They are similar situations in that I am coming in trying to change the culture of the program, but it's a different kind of change at HCC," Smelkinson said. "My focus is really on academics and getting guys in here that are not only good players, but are committed to staying eligible, graduating and going on to four-year colleges."

If things go according to his master plan, Smelkinson won't have to go very far to find those kinds of players. In his mind, there are plenty of quality potential student athletes at Howard County schools.

"It's Howard Community College so I really feel like it should represent the community of Howard County," Smelkinson said. "It comes down to getting them on campus and helping them realize just how much this campus is really growing. Really, the school is at a point where it sells itself."

Already for next season Smelkinson has several Howard County products on board. James Peters (Oakland Mills), Ben Vester (Wilde Lake) and Winfield Taylor (Chapelgate) were all double-digit scorers last season for their respective schools. Leo Rogers, a first-team all-county player at Hammond in 2009, will also be joining the team.

Throw in potential returners like Aaron Bellamy (Howard) and Sean Sullivan (Reservoir), who were two of the three county guys on last year's HCC squad, and Smelkinson could see half his roster filled by local faces.

The hope is eventually that percentage will grow even higher.

"Usually it takes three to five years to really get out and establish yourself in the community, but maybe with Mike being a local kid he taps into that a little quicker," Schumacher said. "You can already see that he has that energy and enthusiasm that you need."

As for next season, Smelkinson is hesitant to set any performance-based goals, especially considering he hasn't finalized his roster. One thing for sure, though, is that he expects progress.

"I've always prided myself on hard work, as a player and as a coach. That's something that I can control," Smelkinson said. "My attitude is that no one is going to outwork me and that's what I want to instill in my players.

"If I give my all and they give their all, I truly believe good things are going to happen."