Neil Smith is never far from a basketball.
Whether teaching, watching or coaching, Smith wants to be involved.
Now that has retired from Basketball New Brunswick – Smith held the Technical Director position for years – he has some more time to give back to the game he loves.
That’s exactly what the Miramichi Hericanes were hoping when they reached out to the resident of Grand Digue, NB.
Smith was named head coach of the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association team that is preparing for its second season in the highly-competitive seven-team circuit.
The ‘Canes held their first training camp of the season recently, allowing Smith the opportunity to get on the floor in a challenging and new position.
‘My passion is being on the court with players and trying to help them achieve their goals while enjoying the process,’ Smith said. ‘That’s why I was drawn to the game. I loved my time with Basketball New Brunswick, but when I retired, the organizing, development of provincial directions and program, weekly travel and dealing with so much across the province went away. The change has been good.’
Smith, who guided the Moncton High Purple Knights to a New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association boys’ AAA Final 12 title, jumped aboard Moncton-base 506 Elite program to keep his hand in coaching.
He was certainly content coaching younger players again.
Then came the call from Miramichi.
‘I’m a basketball junkie, so I have followed the MWBA very closely since it all started,’ Smith said. ‘Many of the players are familiar to me after 11 years as technical director with BNB. When I accepted the position, I immediately started to familiarize myself with players on the ‘Canes’ roster to better understand where all the puzzle pieces fit.’
Smith replaces first-year coach Brittany Sullivan, who remains with the organization after Miramichi’s first season.
To say the MWBA was fully embraced in the basketball-mad city would be an understatement.
Crowds packed Miramichi Valley High School to see the hard-working Hericanes display skill and passion for the game.
That won’t change in Year II.
‘I love what I have seen from the MWBA from the perspective of a fan and watching all the young players watching the games, meeting older players and having them as role models,’ Smith said. ‘The MWBA has helped enhance the growth of the game in the Maritimes.’
Smith is not a stranger to the territory.
He coached at Dalhousie High School for two decades and has worked with Miramichi Hoops youth programs during his time with BNB.
His experience will serve the talented Hericanes well as they return numerous players from a year ago including reigning MWBA MVP, Lauren Rainford.
‘I always enjoyed competing in Miramichi, so we are looking forward to representing this close-knit community which supports basketball with so much passion,’ he said. ‘I have a lot of friends involved in the MWBA, so it’s going to be great catching up with players, coaches and fans I’ve not seen in awhile.’
And what can the Miramichi players expect?
‘I am a big believer in let the players play,’ he said. ‘I do not over coach every possession in practice or games. Let them explore and make mistakes. That’s an integral factor in developing players and teams.’
Smith and the Hericanes open play Sunday, May 4, at home.
Miramichi welcomes the Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour to MVHS in time for a 2 p.m. start.
Lake City will visit Moncton Mystics on Saturday, May 3, at Crandall University in time for a 7 p.m. start while the Halifax Thunder host Halifax Thunder that night.
One other opening weekend game is in Fredericton on May 4 where the hometown Freeze welcome Saint John’s Port City Fog to the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium.
Game time is 1 p.m.
