“Our greatest successes are young ladies who become self-reliant, disciplined, productives members of society.  Our greatest resource is the productive reinforcement of family, community and God.”Coach Sam Smith, Director and Head Coach of the Continental T-Belles Track Club, Inc. is a native of Canton, Mississippi.  He has spent his entire life dedicated to training young athletes. Coach Smith retired from the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools system as the Head Girls Track Coach at Whites Creek High School. He has served as the Assistant Women’s Track Coach at Tennessee State University.  He was named State of Tennessee Track Coach of the year, National Track Coach of the year Runner-up and McDonald’s Coach of the year.

 

He began his sports career while in high school, as a member of the football team and track & field team (specializing in the 4x200 relay and javelin/shot put). In 1964, Coach Smith was awarded a football scholarship to Tennessee State University where he was positioned as TSU's running back. After graduation, he obtained his first job teaching at North High School in the Nashville Public School District where he taught Social Studies, Biology, Math and Physical Education. Later in his career, he taught at Whites Creek High School and began coaching baseball, football, and track & field.

 

In 1980, the legendary Coach Ed Temple formed the Continental T-Belles Track Team and after one year of coaching them, the NCAA ruled that college coaches could not have outside sports clubs.  Coach Temple then sought Coach Smith to take over as Head Coach of the Continental T-Belles.  Coach Smith has been a mentor and coach for several well-known athletes, such as Alexis Pekrosy--1987 Junior National Team, Yolanda Russell-Gurley—1991 Olympic Festival Team Gold Medalist, Kathy McMillian—Olympic Silver Medalist, Chandra Cheeseborough—Olympic Gold Medalist and numerous others who advanced beyond the Continental T-Belles Track Club to graduate from high school, college and graduate school.  Coach Smith has many ties to the local and national athletic communities, and utilizes these relationships to provide educational opportunities to our athletes.  This often includes recommendations for academic scholarships at both the high school and college levels.  He boasts, “a 100 percent high school graduation rate among the T-Belles and over 85 percent college graduation rate with 80-85 percent of athletes matriculating on a track scholarship."

 

Every year, Continental T-Belles team members as young as 8 years old are coached to qualify and compete in the Junior Olympics.  When asked why he has devoted his life to coaching he states, "I see the need for structure in children throughout the city and want to be an instrument in providing that structure to as many as I can."  He delights in seeing youth succeed and remembers that when he was growing up many people encouraged and believed in him, which kept his dreams alive.  He has numerous accomplishments, which were driven by his desire to be different from any other coach in the country.  He has taken advantage of all opportunities afforded him through clinics and advice from other experienced coaches in order to continually provide stellar training to the girls on his team.

 

Coach Smith seeks to help our youth establish the discipline and self-motivation that is necessary not only for athletic competition, but also for life.  His approach is strict and his expectations are high, yet they are balanced with his desire to see each athlete succeed within the framework of their own capabilities.

 

Currently, Coach Smith volunteers his time and energy to helping young men and women develop their athletic careers and gives tirelessly of himself to ensure the success of the Continental T-Belles Track Club. After so many years of coaching, he was asked when he would retire he replied, "When the girls and parents stop asking me to stay until they graduate."  Since each year brings new girls yet the same desire for him to stay, that time does not seem to be coming soon.