(Guthrie Center) He’d always envisioned coaching football. Instead, Steve Smith got involved with volleyball, girls basketball, and girls track at Guthrie Center.
Coaching was a natural career choice for Smith who was heavily involved in a variety of activities as a kid. “I loved kids and I liked trying to boost people to different levels. When jobs came open for coaching I jumped at those chances.”
Smith describes coaching like a gift that keeps on giving especially in regards to molding a person’s life off the court. “Not only is it rewarding to watch them during the years that you are able to work with them and be around them, but when they get out of high school and you continue to follow them and they continue to come back. When you have contact with them it is so much fun and it is so gratifying to be able to know that you were in other people’s lives and you were able to make a difference.”
Guthrie Center has made 22 appearances at the girls state basketball tournament. “It was total community support. The community was always behind basketball and activities in general. The special part about it was they didn’t do a lot of meddling as you hear many times today. They were more supportive.”
Smith was head coach for the girls basketball team in the mid-90’s while also serving as Superintendent. “It was a lot of late nights. I would get done with practice and games and just go back to work at school. I should thank my family because they were all so supportive.”
Coaching girls sports wasn’t what he initially envisioned, but he loved it. “I thought I would like to coach football,” Smith laughs “But that was never open. Once you dove in and got what you got, then you like it…I wasn’t changing.”
https://soundcloud.com/hyoach/steve-smith-why-i-coach
Previous Coaches
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
