“Mike was able to bridge that gap and that’s what made him successful in so many sports. He was the head coach from 2003-09, junior high head coach in 2010 and has been alongside Steve Neptune since 2011. That was also Smith’s first year as Holt’s head football coach, and Fulk was his quarterback. Smith was Holt’s boys tennis coach for 15 years from 1993-2007 and had plenty of success in that area, too, as the Rams qualified for the state finals four times – 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2006. “He wasn’t my dad, but he was the closest thing anybody gets. Holt Renames HS Football Stadium Holt will rename the HS Football Stadium, Michael Smith Memorial Stadium . He was there for the rest of Smith’s Holt tenure through 2007, and then went with Smith to coach at Olivet College, where they shared an office for three seasons. Along with a private funeral with the family, Fulk said the plan is to set up a memorial for Smith in front of Holt's football stadium. He was the boys junior high coach for 3 seasons, girls junior high coach for 1 season, and the boys JV coach for 3 years. NEMETZ IS CURRENTLY the assistant coach and defensive coordinator of West Holt High School. You’re doing the right things,'” said Houghton. WENTZVILLE, Mo. Steve Neptune of West Holt High School and Dan Maresh of Bancroft-Rosalie/Lyons-Decatur (BRLD) have been named head coaches for the eighth Red … There will be a sign made so people can come and say their goodbyes, give their remembrances and pay their respects. Fulk, now Holt's head coach, joined Smith’s staff the year after graduating high school. They came out of the gates soaring, winning their first five games, and part of the program's passion comes from their strength coach, Aaron Smith. The Jenison boys squad reached the 2006 Division II state finals with many of his former JV players comprising the roster. Notice: All external links are intended for educational purposes only. The Vikings went 2-7 in Smith’s lone season as health complications forced him to miss the 2019 season. But Smith also had another passion: Tennis. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – There are some people you meet in life who can automatically bring a smile to your face. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com. The Holt varsity football team won Friday's neutral playoff game against Grand Ledge (MI) by a score of 43-36. Prior to Mason football’s game on Friday night, Bulldogs’ coach Gary Houghton shared a special memory between him and Smith. Wake Forest, N.C. — Heritage High School has hired its next head football coach. ... Get key announcements and game updates from the official Holt Senior High School … By Nick Stevens. With Coach Smith’s departure from Holt, Mr. Al Slamer was appointed as Holt’s head football coach. Holt Football Team History. “Not only did he win, but he made some great men out there and the relationships he made with kids is something that every coach and teacher tries to achieve. Stepping in as the interim coach was Jaleel Canty, who, after a 5-4 season in 2019, is now Everett’s head coach. “It’s beyond friendship. Holt High School 3801 Alabama Ave. Holt, AL 35404 Stadium: Woody Clements Field Colors: Purple & White Coach: Woody Clements “He brought confidence,” Eaton Rapids Athletic Director Jeff Dassance said. Hall of … The meeting hosted by Samaritas addressed the increased need for foster parents, which has worsened during the pandemic. All rights reserved. No matter the place and no matter the time. Social Studies Teacher, Asst. And it was a complete team effort that led to the success as Holt … Wentzville Holt High School Football Team Booster Club Home Page “He’d review a film and send us updates. He will coach the Eagles offensive line. It felt like the old days for a minute,” Fulk said. Swofford was a long time head football coach at Wentzville Holt High School from 1986–1998. Smith got his start in coaching in 1989 as the head football coach at Dansville before moving on to Holt in 1994 and did he ever turn the Rams into a powerhouse program. Even with Smith unable to coach on a day-to-day basis in 2019, he was still a vital part of the process: Smith would call every Thursday and Sunday to go over the game plan and was constantly logging in to Hudl, a popular video hosting service for football coaches to view film of their own teams and opponents, multiple times a week. Michael R. Gulledge In the following 12 years, Holt would reach the playoffs seven more times, win two more district titles and advance to the state semifinals in 2002. The news of his passing, at the age of 67 years old, sent shockwaves throughout the Mid-Michigan community as he spent nearly 40 years roaming up and down the sidelines. Smith did that and then some, delivering the Greyhounds their first two district titles in program history, coming in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014. While at Farmington, Coach amassed a 57-23 record, four conference championships, a trip to the quarterfinals, and two trips to the semifinals. Wentzville School District attempts to restrict external links to web sites of appropriate educational nature, and is not responsible for questionable or controversial content found through links external to this site. He just had a heart. WENTZVILLE, Mo. Aaron runs marathons and is a Crossfit competitor. When Smith was hired at Holt in 1994, Green stayed on the staff and was named defensive coordinator in 1996. “He just loved people so much that people he didn’t even know would just come up to him and start talking,” Fulk said. Holt High School appointed Mr. Chad Fulk, high school teacher and Holt alum, as the Rams new head football coach on March 12, 2015. — Holt High School has a football program on the rise. It’s what made him a great football coach, administrator, and more importantly a mentor. Smith's defensive coordinator for the first three seasons was one of his former stars at Holt, Mitch Zajac, who was just coming off a successful career at Western Michigan. He is one of the most carved up 50-year-old men in the area. “At the time, my mom was sick with cancer and Mike was somebody I could lean on," Fulk said. During my sophomore year playing Varsity, I primarily played Wide Receiver. Another varsity football season ended early Saturday, as Holt High School announced the end of their season due to "COVID-19 issues." The event is a career and hiring event for high school seniors where they can interview for part-and-full-time jobs with different businesses and industries. With Coach Smith’s departure from Holt, Mr. Al Slamer was appointed as Holt’s head football coach. Not counting his wife, Chad Fulk surmises that he's spent more time with Mike Smith than any other person on this planet. The best of the best in Alabama High School Football over the past 100 seasons. Smith was our Athletic Director as well as our Head Coach in 2018. Hall of … Green’s wife, Pam, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer twice, the first time in 2014. On behalf of West Alabama Works, we invite you to participate in WOW 2.0 on April 1st and April 2nd, 2021. So when the news passed through Greater Lansing that Smith, a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, died Thursday at 67 years old, Fulk was as heartbroken as anyone. Save. Canty is young in terms of varsity head coaches: he just finished his college playing career in 2017 with Ferris State. At the urging of his family, Chris Holtis returning to the sidelines. Not counting this 2020 season, when every team made the playoffs, it’s the Greyhounds’ only two postseason appearances. Holt Renames HS Football Stadium Holt will rename the HS Football Stadium, Michael Smith Memorial Stadium . Zajac remembers Smith promising to reach the playoffs in the first season. “I never forgot that and I always appreciated that.”. The Aggies were coming off a 1-8 season, but in 1989 Smith turned things around immediately with an 8-1 record. Mike Smith was one of those people. He spent the last two years of his coaching career as an assistant the running backs and special teams coach for the Washington University Bears. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Mike Smith was a leader, legend and winner as a football coach — Holt High School has a football program on the rise. 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