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Smith out as Pam Pack hoops coach
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Jason Smith said it was simply time for a change.
Smith confirmed Sunday evening that he had resigned as head coach of the Washington Pam Pack boys basketball team. He guided the Pack to a 30-46 record over the last three years.
“I just felt that it was time to move on,” Smith said. “I did what I felt I needed to do.”
Smith graduated from Washington High School. He returned home to coach his former team, beginning with the 2003-04 season. Smith led the Pack to a 10-14 mark in his first year as head coach.
After the Pack struggled to an 8-18 mark in the 2004-05 season, Smith got the program back in the right direction last year, as the team went 12-14 overall and 7-7 in the Class 3-A/4-A Coastal Conference. The Pack advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.
“In the last three years, the kids have matured and they know what to expect,” Smith said. “They’re finally starting to realize what it means to play Washington basketball.
“I was born and raised in Washington and one of my dreams was always to come back and coach the team. I did that so I’ve lived one of my life dreams.”
Smith is the son of legendary Washington coach Dave Smith, who racked up 753 wins in his 34-year coaching career. The elder Smith won 533 games in 19 seasons at Washington, which included state championships in the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.
“It was great to be able to come back to the area and spend time with my family and friends,” Jason Smith said. “It was really great that I could spend some time with my dad.”
Jason Smith guided the Pack to a 57-55 win over Nash Central in the first round of the NCHSAA Class 3-A state playoffs last year. Washington’s season came to a close with a 78-62 loss to second-ranked Southern Wayne in the second round.
Smith also played a big part in helping Calvin Daniels set the school’s all-time scoring mark. Daniels finished with 1,940 points, surpassing the previous mark set by NBA Hall of Famer, Dominique Wilkins.
“We had a memorable season,” Smith said. “Getting to the second round of the state playoffs was big. That’s something Washington hasn’t done in a long time. We played the No. 1 team in the state (Dudley) and played them well for three quarters. Winning the silver anniversary of the Washington Daily News tournament was big because I grew up around that tournament, so winning that was tremendous.
“Watching Calvin Daniels and seeing the way he came on was exciting. Being a part of his breaking the scoring record is big.”
Daniels, a two-time Daily News’ Male Basketball Player of the Year and a First Team member of the 2006 Associated Press All-State team, had kind words to say about Smith.
“He’s a great coach and he taught me a lot,” said Daniels, who played at New Horizons Christian Academy in Virginia last year after leaving Washington. “He taught me a lot.”
Daniels said he was unsure of where he’ll play next year.
Smith has some options for next year.
“I want to expand my horizons,” Smith said. “I’m working on some things right now and I’m waiting on the final word.
“It’s just time to move on. I wanted to add a little life into the (Washington) program and I did that. I want to see it expand and keep moving forward. It’s been wonderful, but everything happens for a reason and I think it’s my time to leave.”
Smith confirmed Sunday evening that he had resigned as head coach of the Washington Pam Pack boys basketball team. He guided the Pack to a 30-46 record over the last three years.
“I just felt that it was time to move on,” Smith said. “I did what I felt I needed to do.”
Smith graduated from Washington High School. He returned home to coach his former team, beginning with the 2003-04 season. Smith led the Pack to a 10-14 mark in his first year as head coach.
After the Pack struggled to an 8-18 mark in the 2004-05 season, Smith got the program back in the right direction last year, as the team went 12-14 overall and 7-7 in the Class 3-A/4-A Coastal Conference. The Pack advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.
“In the last three years, the kids have matured and they know what to expect,” Smith said. “They’re finally starting to realize what it means to play Washington basketball.
“I was born and raised in Washington and one of my dreams was always to come back and coach the team. I did that so I’ve lived one of my life dreams.”
Smith is the son of legendary Washington coach Dave Smith, who racked up 753 wins in his 34-year coaching career. The elder Smith won 533 games in 19 seasons at Washington, which included state championships in the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.
“It was great to be able to come back to the area and spend time with my family and friends,” Jason Smith said. “It was really great that I could spend some time with my dad.”
Jason Smith guided the Pack to a 57-55 win over Nash Central in the first round of the NCHSAA Class 3-A state playoffs last year. Washington’s season came to a close with a 78-62 loss to second-ranked Southern Wayne in the second round.
Smith also played a big part in helping Calvin Daniels set the school’s all-time scoring mark. Daniels finished with 1,940 points, surpassing the previous mark set by NBA Hall of Famer, Dominique Wilkins.
“We had a memorable season,” Smith said. “Getting to the second round of the state playoffs was big. That’s something Washington hasn’t done in a long time. We played the No. 1 team in the state (Dudley) and played them well for three quarters. Winning the silver anniversary of the Washington Daily News tournament was big because I grew up around that tournament, so winning that was tremendous.
“Watching Calvin Daniels and seeing the way he came on was exciting. Being a part of his breaking the scoring record is big.”
Daniels, a two-time Daily News’ Male Basketball Player of the Year and a First Team member of the 2006 Associated Press All-State team, had kind words to say about Smith.
“He’s a great coach and he taught me a lot,” said Daniels, who played at New Horizons Christian Academy in Virginia last year after leaving Washington. “He taught me a lot.”
Daniels said he was unsure of where he’ll play next year.
Smith has some options for next year.
“I want to expand my horizons,” Smith said. “I’m working on some things right now and I’m waiting on the final word.
“It’s just time to move on. I wanted to add a little life into the (Washington) program and I did that. I want to see it expand and keep moving forward. It’s been wonderful, but everything happens for a reason and I think it’s my time to leave.”
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