Basketball Coach’s Resignation Stirs Controversy 12-16-09
There will be a noticeable difference on the sidelines of Delta’s men’s basketball games, the absence of FORMER Head Coach Dave Smith.
The resignation of Dave Smith as Delta’s Men basketball coach is causing a buzz on campus.
“I was somewhat disappointed to hear the news,” said Lyle Flores, a student at Delta. “Coach Smith is very dedicated to basketball and cares about his athletes and their futures,” Flores continued, “I brought my friend in to meet him because he wanted to try out for the team and then the next day I found out he was fired.”
Athletic Director Greg Malleck says, “I am coaching the team for the remainder of the year with help from Chuck Lord,” and cited “philosophical reasons” for Smiths departure.
“Mr. Malleck called me on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving, he (Malleck) told me that Coach Smith had resigned and that he (Malleck) and I will be taking over the team immediately,” said Lord, who is the Admissions Representative and Athletic Recruiter for Delta, “Because I have been in this situation before, I did not press Mr. Malleck for additional information.”
The Pioneers were 6-3 when Smith resigned after the team played against Kirkland Community College on Nov. 24. They have went on to win two more games and lose one since Smiths resignation, bringing their record to 8-4 with 15 games left in a 27 game season.
“They could easily win 20 games if they play right,” said Smith.
Winning 20 games this season would tie the amount of the games won in the previous two seasons combined. In 2008 they ended the season with 11 wins and in 2009 ending with only 9. In both seasons the losses equaled more than the wins.
Many are wondering what happened? The question has been asked: What makes a coach resign during the middle of what looks to be a promising season?
“Maybe he quit because they are losing or was he forced to quit,” said Jose Jiminez, a student at Delta. After being informed that the team was 8-3, Jiminez said, “Oh, they’re doing good. That’s weird that he quit.”
“From what I hear, one of the best players was kicked off the team because of bad grades,” said Rap Artist and Delta student Louis Thomas.
Thomas continued, “If that is the case, I think it is unfair that Smith had to resign as a result of looking out for the players best interest.”
The player Thomas is referring to is #24 freshman Brice Powell, a 6’ 6” guard/forward.
“This issue was not about Brice’s grades, we can pull his transcripts,” said Lord.
“My understanding is that Dave (Smith) let Brice go and that precipitated a meeting between Greg (Malleck) and Dave, other issues were discussed that led to Dave’s resigning,” said Lord.
“The whole Brice Powell situation had very little to do with Dave having to resign,” Lord says.
“Had I been the Athletic Director, in a situation where we let a kid go from out of state, would have to be extreme. For letting him (Powell) go for a disagreement would be more of a suspension, which Greg followed through with,” said Lord.
Powell, according to the school website, is from Wauwatosa East High in Milwaukee, WI.
Smith had kicked Powell off the team by the time they faced Kirkland Community College on Nov.24. When Delta faced Loraine Community College on Dec. 2, Powell was back and Smith was gone. Powell is serving a four game suspension and “may have to sit longer,” according to Lord.
“Our job is to do what’s best for the students and we can’t help them if they are not here. We have to be able to sit down and work with the students,” Lord said.
“Whether some people think it isn't fair or it is fair, life is not always fair. Life is all about choices and both Coach Smith and Greg Malleck made a choice that they felt was right and in the team’s best interest. Whether you side with one or the other, you stay positive and learn from past experiences,” says Kyle Sanchez a former player under Smith and Malleck’s leadership
“I hired Dave. I have a great deal of faith in Dave and thinks he’s a great person,” said Lord.
In a prepared statement Smith responded to the news of his resignation:
“I had been the head coach of men’s basketball here for 3 ½ years. I built the men’s basketball program here at Delta College on the foundations of hard work, integrity, giving your best, and doing things the right way on and off the court. I can say that during my entire tenure as head coach, I did things the right way. I gave a program that had no direction before I got here, a sense of direction and pride. The Athletic department decided to go in a new direction. I have certain expectations and goals that I want to achieve as a college coach as well as an administrator/professor, so stepping down as a coach was not a problem. I feel bad only because I built the men’s basketball program here and am not able to fully take in what we’ve worked for. I do know that there will be brighter days though.”
Some worry about the season and how the athletes will adjust to the change so late in the season.
Lord says, “We have a young team but they are adjusting very well.”
Malleck had a prepared statement to address those concerns:
“The student athletes involved in this situation have responded admirably and respectfully to both Coach Smith’s position and Delta College. They have remained focused and are moving forward in a positive manner towards achieving their team goals of a conference championship and post season play.”
Smith became the coach after Flinnoia Hall was fired in January, 2006, That year the men’s team finished 2-23. Delta’s Men’s Basketball has two Division II Eastern conference championships on record, 1981-82 and 1993-94, a National championship in 1989, and Central Conference championship in 1975.
