TheTandD.com | Smith steps down from OPS

Smith steps down from OPS

By TRAVIS BOLAND, T&D Sports Writer Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Orangeburg Prep football head coach David Smith resigned Friday afternoon, according to a press release issued by the school.

Smith took over as head coach last February and finished with a 5-7 record last season after a first-round playoff loss to Hammond. He leaves to take an assistant coaching job at Barnwell High School, and will also serve as defensive coordinator this football season. Smith, who spent 18 years in the public school system, felt it was time to go back.

"I came from Berkeley High School to take the job at Orangeburg Prep, and I thank the administration for allowing me the opportunity to be a head coach, but I just see myself in an assistant's role," he said. "The benefits are better with public school's and I have to think about what's best for my family, especially my daughter."

Smith's daughter -- Katelyn -- has battled with leukemia and is currently in remission.

Smith is good friends with Barnwell head coach Joey Still, and is excited about getting the chance to coach with his friend. Talks were finalized about the position two weeks ago, but according to Smith the move had been in the works since the beginning of the year. Smith and Still coached with each other at Berkeley.

"Joey and I talked about the job in January, but we just finished getting the position filled after he had some coaches to leave," Smith said. "I turned down a similar job at West Ashley High School in February due to the geographical restraints, but Barnwell seems to fit."

Still is excited about his team's new pickup, and feels honored to have a coach of Smith's caliber joining their organization.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to have a coach like David Smith come on board," Still said. "We're going to sit down with him and see exactly where he fits in with the rest of the coaches, but he will definitely be my right-hand man. We couldn't have picked a better hire."

Still said Smith has verbally agreed to come to Barnwell and he expects him to sign a contract on Wednesday.

Smith said he is not leaving the cupboard bare at Orangeburg Prep, and feels that the assistant coaches will do a fine job in his absence.

"We have good assistants at Orangeburg Prep and the system is in place," he said. "The kids know what they need to do, and a lot of them are stronger than they have ever been."

The Orangeburg Prep football team recently returned from an FCA camp at Charleston Southern University.

In the release from Orangeburg Prep, headmaster Kelly Mims announced that athletic director Todd Layton would handle the head coaching duties on an interim basis, and Smith said there has been no talk about a replacement. Mims also wished Smith the best of luck in his new position and thanked him for his work with OPS.

T&D Sports Writer Travis Boland can be reached by office phone at 533-5522 or by e-mail at tboland@timesanddemocrat.com.

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48 comment(s)

The following comments are reader submitted. They do not represent the views of The T&D or Lee Enterprises.

pedingsgang wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:11 AM:

" Confissusum, first let me apologize. I should have done that in my earlier blog; the conscience is an annoyance at times. I was taught that I must apologize whether I meant to harm someone or not. Con was not meant in a harmful way. (OK, Confiswhatever, was.) But who can spell these made up names. The major problem with blogging - not taking responsibility for what one writes. I'm guessing by your response that you are a member of the press, therefore your extremely liberal stance on freedom of speech. My argument has nothing to do with freedom of speech, but rather accountability. Some organizations refuse to take anonymous letters seriously. It has nothing to do with validity... credibility is the issue. You can't tell me the previous 40+ blogs on this site would have been here had people been required to sign a legal name. And you say this is freedom of speech. What about Coach Smith? I don't know the man, but his character certainly seems to be in question. None of this would be allowed in a court of law yet it is allowed to cloud people's minds. As for the comment on civility, it was not directed at you, but rather the scores of people using the blog to destroy another. "

pedingsgang wrote on Aug 2, 2007 9:04 PM:

" That's the entire problem in a nutshell... there is NO standard. "

confisussum wrote on Aug 2, 2007 1:39 PM:

" While familiar with the term civility, I fail to recognize its relevance to any of my posts on this topic. My position is, and will remain, that the exchange of opinion ultimately brings positive results. I will respect your opposing view, and provide a civil discourse, as long as you offer me the same courtesy. By the way, my reference to a double standard was directed to YOUR use of a "nickname", then voicing opposition to the use of this practice by others. "

pedingsgang wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:30 AM:

" Try this word: libel. I am not against freedom of speech. I am against cowards who won't be named slinging mud at innocent individuals. You might also look up "civility". "

tittl wrote on Aug 1, 2007 7:44 PM:

" ha! and i'm worried about public education! i feel so much better now! "

cavalierhater wrote on Aug 1, 2007 5:36 PM:

" op is SACS accredited...calhoun is not, enough said. they must be doing something right over at op "

swillabill wrote on Aug 1, 2007 6:27 AM:

" You guys crack me up. Certainly seems like the pot is calling the kettle black. As for you jimbo, comprehension must not be your game either, as in your first line you state OP is your school, and it is you that preaches of Utopia, as for cavalierhater, you turn this into a competition between schools, so you can ignore the fact that OP is poorly run. I know that the truth is painful, but dont blame me for speaking it. "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 31, 2007 7:20 PM:

" i agree mrjim, swillbill you need to calm down "

mrjim wrote on Jul 31, 2007 2:19 PM:

" Swill bill, never did I claim that OPS was my school alone. OPS, CA, OW, OCA, all schools are part of the community and perhaps you didn't comprehend my post when I stated the fact that no one, no school is perfect. you seem to be so angry at some one and I'm sorry. Perhaps you should try opening up a school to teach your ways: Swill Bill's UTOPIA. Let us all know when enrollment begins. Nothing further. "

confisussum wrote on Jul 31, 2007 10:23 AM:

" While the perusal of webster's is a useful endeavor, perhaps it is you that should investigate the definition of double standard. "

pedingsgang wrote on Jul 27, 2007 8:45 AM:

" Con, the word I'm trying to get you to look at is "accountability". If you don't know what it means, look it up. "

swillabill wrote on Jul 26, 2007 10:41 PM:

" Guess what Jimbo, where you went to school doesn't make a bit of difference. Matter of fact what should embarass you is the way YOUR schools students can get rid of decent people by character assasination, supported by YOUR schools weak administration and even weaker board. You can better the community by demanding they resign from YOUR school. "

mrjim wrote on Jul 26, 2007 9:51 PM:

" As an OPS alum, I am embarassed by all of you. Stop the name calling and throwing blame. No one in this world is perfect; no student, no coach, no administrator, and certainly no school. Move on with on your lives, and perhaps, do something to help our communities rather than gossip or race to this blog every day. "

confisussum wrote on Jul 26, 2007 4:53 PM:

" I have read and re-read your sentence, and at no point can I say that is does not support censorship, and an abridgement of first amendment rights. "

pedingsgang wrote on Jul 26, 2007 12:08 PM:

" Whoever's editing - i'm not sure if the first one was submitted because i got a "warning:page has expired" message, so if this is a duplicate, please disregard. Read the last sentence, confisswhatever. And oburg666, you may like to check out the 2nd sentence. Nobody said there aren't other bad things going on. "

oburg211 wrote on Jul 26, 2007 9:59 AM:

" you really think blogging has made society worst i guess there arnt things like crime war global warming to worry about "

confisussum wrote on Jul 26, 2007 9:30 AM:

" So...by your estimation, the exchange of opinions are dangerous and should be banned. I believe that this notion did not work out well for Communist Russia, or Nazi Germany. Not so sure we should adopt your recommendation. "

pedingsgang wrote on Jul 26, 2007 7:50 AM:

" Let's see, what would be the reason for not posting slanderous comments that are made by cowards hiding behind fake names??? Blogging has taken our society down a frightening road. Talking in an open forum where people are held to a level of accountability is completely different than what is taking place here. "

confisussum wrote on Jul 25, 2007 10:37 AM:

" While I agree some posts are juvenile and poorly thought out, I vehemently disagree with the notion of this site banning them. Whether misguided or not, the opportunity to discuss issues in an open forum goes along way in helping to resolve them. Granted, most of what is promoted is opinion, not fact, but theoretically isn't that the basis for most discussions anyway. I say as long as posts do not use profanity, or other measurable socially unacceptable verbage, allow them. "

Stella wrote on Jul 24, 2007 4:28 PM:

" mdennis is right! This site and the comments have turned extremely juvenile and off the topic and MALICIOUS. The T&D should ban these types of posts! The T and D is letting people spread malicious slander and hide behind a screen name. David Smith is an honorable man! Why should he put up with all this when he has had other offers? Have any of you compared OP salary and benefits to the salary and benefits in public education? "

mdennis wrote on Jul 23, 2007 3:40 PM:

" This site and comments has turned exremely juvenile and off the topic. The T&D should ban these types of posts for they do nothing but spread gossip and give immature people a place to beat their chests in an attmept to prove self-worth. "

mrb404 wrote on Jul 23, 2007 3:36 PM:

" Cavalierhater - What's you issue. You sound so insecure in you school that you have to pick on another to make you feel better. I bet you were a bully in school. What does CA have to do with this article? This is about a coach leaving OP, not about a school rivalry. "

confisussum wrote on Jul 23, 2007 3:35 PM:

" "Cavalierhater" you are doing a great job at given credence to the other posters comments regarding the OP intelligence level. "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 23, 2007 11:51 AM:

" so is that why all of the kids that fail out of op get their name published in the tandd for honor roll at calhoun....i guess that explains why calhoun is so much harder, and sat scores represents anything that you have learned in school and i guess thats why students at op get accepted at higher institutions around the country when if not for calhoun academy then octech would loose three fourths of its enrollment. "

swillabill wrote on Jul 22, 2007 9:56 PM:

" Jealous.... of what? A mismanaged overpriced haven for spoiled brats? Give me a break. OP's academic requirements are just bendable rules based on the student's standing in society. There are kids there right now that can't add 2+2, but based on who their parents are they are allowed to stay. If you guys think that the SAT scores at OP are so much higher, produce the numbers. You just assume these things because it makes hiding OP's failings that much easier. But congratulations to all the spoiled kids that succeeded in the character assasination of David Smith. You are great role models for the kids coming behind you. God help us. "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 22, 2007 9:54 PM:

" foosball player, who are you to question voice of reason when they made a valid point. why dont you consider concerned parent and the facts that they have stated. i do wish that the tand would stop censoring this stuff because im sure someone has said why he left and they would not post it "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 22, 2007 6:18 PM:

" dirty sanchez is apparently the only other person on this website besides me that knows what actually happened, thank you dirty sanchez....you are my hero, i think the truth should be known "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 21, 2007 12:50 PM:

" im sorry to say that all of you are totally wrong on the fact of why david smith left orangeburg prep, there is a reason and when all of you climb out of the dark deep holes that you are living in then you will know what actually happened, and as for you swillabill....you must be one of those little jealous calhoun parents that is just mad because your child could not meet the academic requirements at orangeburg prep "

foosballplayer29115 wrote on Jul 21, 2007 5:05 AM:

" The voice of reason must also have something to hide. Maybe he is a former coach who a skeleton in his closet. I know one in high places in ScISA .Censor to protect the truth "

kvb107 wrote on Jul 20, 2007 6:09 PM:

" I have coached with David in the past and I am in absolute disbelief about the opinions and false statements issued by some folks in Orangeburg. David has coached at several places during his 18 yr career and has NEVER had anything like this surrounding his character. It is a real shame that he went back to his alma mater and got treated with such disrespect. David loves coaching and he is darn good at it. He takes pride in his job, and realizes that his character has a direct effect on the young athletes he coaches. Shame on the parents of the student/athletes who started rumors about David. What kind of example are you setting??? Shame on the administration at OP for not backing David just because a few parents are unhappy...guess they are the ones with the money. It would be a refreshing change for adults to actually act like adults. The administrators and board members of OP are no better than the parents that stirred up the trouble in the first place. Again another fabulous lesson for the students at OP!! If folks had a problem with David replacing Shelley that is one thing but to bring his family into is quite another. How utterly immature!!! Organburg Prep has lost a good coach and more importantly a good role model for the students at OP. (Apparently the students need a good role model b/c the parents and others are failing miserably. "

dirty sanchez wrote on Jul 20, 2007 10:38 AM:

" To swillabill, The reason so many of OP's student's are coming to CA is because they can't make it academically at OP. I've heard from people that have experienced both schools and they have said they went from D's and F's at OP to A's and B's at CA. The faculity is not the reason for students leaving, it is the students. Ask any acceptance officer at any college who they would rather have- a B student at OP or an A student at CA and they will tell you hands down the OP student. That's what makes OP a good school. The truth of the matter is that those that students that keep leaving are doing OP a favor in that they aren't pulling down OP's average SAT down anymore. So go back to your academically challenged students and try to teach them something. "

superfluousman wrote on Jul 20, 2007 7:23 AM:

" A lot of folks here are just starting gossip about the guy who is the subject of the article and other people not even mentioned in the article. The guy could have a number of reasons for leaving. Perhaps he just wants to get back in the state system, which probably offers him a better retirement package than what is available from a private school. Perhaps it's something else. But there is a lot of speculation and wild rumor and gossip starting going on in these comments. "

dirty sanchez wrote on Jul 19, 2007 11:05 PM:

" From a very reliable source there is something more to this story. I hope it will eventually be brought out to prove that David Smith is not all that everyone thinks him to be. On second note... why would he want an assistant's job. That is absurd- he came into Orangeburg Prep with an attitude to take over the program and build a team based on his principles. You can see for yourself that there is definitely some underlying truth to the matter. As a former student I am ashamed of the school and it's faculity's reputation. On the other hand I think Todd Layton is a stand up guy (from experience in playing for him) and did what he thought was right in hiring David Smith... It seemed like a great idea until Smith proved himself dishonorable. As for Calhoun Cavaliers that think your better than us Indians in anything- you are sadly mistaken. It is fact that OP students get accepted into better colleges and have higher SAT scores than you... So why don't you try and fix your own school's problems instead of worrying about OP's. "

swillabill wrote on Jul 19, 2007 9:26 PM:

" In looking at YOUR screen name, I venture to guess that your real name is not twat. If so, your parents played a horrible joke on you. Plus, I never compared OP athletes to CA. Reading comprehension is a neat skill, you should try it sometime. My point was, (and I'll go slow), the administration at OP is doing a great job of running students to CA. I am also amazed at the thinly veiled attempt by "voice of reason" to encourage the t and d to censor posts. Using poor legal analogies did very little to give their post credence. Bottom line is, and will remain, OP has poor administrators and a useless board that is controlled by a few families that believe they are far superior to the "common folk". "

confisussum wrote on Jul 19, 2007 1:35 PM:

" A great man does not get ejected from a sporting contest for threatening an official. However, if you are the friend of the headmaster's family, you are protected, regardless of your actions. "

Concerned Parent wrote on Jul 19, 2007 1:27 PM:

" There is no reason to put down others on here when the subject is Coach David Smith resigning. Layton is a good guy and Calhoun Academy is also a good school. I have family at both schools so I know. Calhoun doesn't have enough students to support 3 separate teams. Calhoun is still growing and is smaller than OPS (for now). The matter here is that Caoch David Smith resigned because of vicious students who posted a website with untrue statements about him and his family and he did not have the support of the parents or the administrators. Not just the website but other incidents as well. Such as when some atheletes broke into OPS gym and stole jerseys. Coach Smith took them off the team but their parents and some OPS staff did not like that. Coach David Smith is an honorable guy. He did have the experience, knowledge and talent to be Head Coach for OPS Varsity football. But he didn't get the support when it was needed. A lot of people were still hostile about Shelly too and took it out on him because they were too shallow minded to realize that he didn't have anything to do with Shelly being fired. He was just the next coach in line. It is a complete shame that an alumni from OPS could not come to their own school to fulfill their dream. He definitely had the credentials. He just would not tolerate bad behavior or disrespect and made sure he followed through when it happened on his turf. He is dedicated to coaching and had a lot to give to OPS. If anyone would do their own research on him they would find that hw was a great athelete at OPS and his name was always in the local newspaper. So he definitely knew what he was doing. But the disrespect got too personal. It started to affect his family and his character and he had better offers so that is why he resigned. He was unhappy with where it was going and it didn't seem to get any better. I am sorry to see him go, he had a lot yet to give but hopefully his new school will support him better than OPS. It seems that some certain students and their parents have a lot of pull within the school and no one seems to know what to do about it or cares. I wish Coach Smith and his family well and I hope the school learns from this but I doubt it. "

cavalierhater wrote on Jul 19, 2007 1:29 AM:

" todd layton is a great man and has done great things for orangeburg prep, he can only do so much for that school until people start appreciating him for what he has dont for the school. i played on a number of sports team that he coached and i enjoyed playing for him "

distagon wrote on Jul 18, 2007 11:13 PM:

" swillabill wrote:". Of course Smith made the right decision, having had to put up with the spoiled attitudes of his lazy athletes. OP will never win championships. They have visionless administrators, and lazy uninspired athletes." If OP has such lazy, uninspired athletes, how did we manage to thump Calhoun in pretty much every sport we played last year? Are Calhoun's athletes more lazy and uninspired than ours, or are Calhoun's coaches that much worse than those you attack here? I know our athletes care enough to come out in enough numbers to have a B, JV, and Varsity football teams next year. Will Calhoun have three separate football teams next year? As far as the OP education you keep putting down, it's the same OP education that continues to post higher average SAT scores than Calhoun. "

twat3309 wrote on Jul 18, 2007 7:16 PM:

" swillabill, you do not know what you are talking about, but of course the lazy athletes from OP that colleges recruit atleast 2-3 each year cant do anything about it... How many students from Calhoun get recruited each year?? exactly.. And in my opinion, I think it is very immature of you to state all of that horse crap about how OP does not have any direction and how inexperienced david smith would be a better AD than todd layton without stating your name "

pharmd wrote on Jul 18, 2007 8:48 AM:

" Obviously, from the article in the papaer to some of the comments made here there is more to this story. Did something happen w/ Coach Smith and if so,what and when? "

concerned parent wrote on Jul 18, 2007 12:01 AM:

" I want to say several things. Number one Coach Smith RESIGNED! He was not let go by the board. Number two he had nothing to do with Shelly leaving OPS. In fact he knew Shelley and thought a lot of him. Number three Smith graduated from this school and was a talented player and his deceased father never missed a game. Smith just wanted to fulfill his dream to coach at the school he graduated from and loved. He didn't deserve the rumours that were being spread about him and his family, They are christians and he is a devoted husband and father and most of a devoted coach. You couldn't ask for a more dedicated coach. He loves coaching. He just wouldn't tolerate the disrespect from his atheletes and they couldn't take it. I am shocked that students from OPS would go as far as create a website against Coach Smith and talk about him and his family the way they did. The school is the one at a loss here. They have loss someone who would have made a great difference. I am sorry to see him go and I wish him and his family all the best. "

voice of reason wrote on Jul 17, 2007 11:28 PM:

" T&D per this site you say…..Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removeal. If you can’t see that some of these comments about Orangeburg Prep and those who work or volunteer at the school are blatantly inflammatory or inappropriate you should consult legal counsel. I am amazed no one has filed slander suits against you or the less than educated individuals that write many of these negative comments for the world to see. It is irresponsible journalism to print comments that specifically name and slander individuals based on opinion and not fact. T&D please stop feeding the beasts and follow your own policy. Who do you have monitoring these comments??? Remove the blatant,inflammatory, and nasty comments. Do the right thing and clean the trashy comments from your site. "

swillabill wrote on Jul 17, 2007 8:02 PM:

" distagon's post is another example of the fine education received at OP. No reading comprehension, but adept at interpreting innuendo and spreading gossip. "

distagon wrote on Jul 17, 2007 7:39 PM:

" Unfortunately, Coach Smith has absolutely nobody to blame but himself for this dismissal. He knows it. The board at OP had no other choice. "

swillabill wrote on Jul 17, 2007 6:50 PM:

" When will the parents of this school demand more accountability from the administration. It is apparent that there is no direction at OP. Decisions are made by absent board members and applied by a "yes-man" headmaster. To allow the joke that is Todd Layton is outrageous. His own actions, as well as his lack of management skills begs the question, why is he allowed to remain? Smith should have been the AD, yet he was forced to work for Layton, who neither respected him, nor supported him. Of course Smith made the right decision, having had to put up with the spoiled attitudes of his lazy athletes. OP will never win championships. They have visionless administrators, and lazy uninspired athletes. Couple this with an ineffective "good old boy" board of directors and you have failure. The folks at Calhoun Academy are blessed to have OP, it makes their recruiting students SO much easier. "

wa1982 wrote on Jul 17, 2007 4:44 PM:

" David is a good guy. He did a lot of good for OP football and I hate to see him leave. I wish him well... "

op-alum wrote on Jul 17, 2007 2:42 PM:

" foosballplayer, get over the past. all that happened over a year ago with coach shelley. he was my coach and i was very close with him. i was upset about it too but i got over it. it is people like you that have the school so divided. I dont know if you are a current player now but if you are, why dont stop worrying about what is on the internet and step up and try to win some ballgames. if i can recall the last team at the school that was good was my team- class of 03- your job is to play to win- if you worryed about winning games half as much as yall like to gossup yall would prob win the state championship "

batb67 wrote on Jul 17, 2007 8:21 AM:

" It is sad to see Coach Smith leave. He is a great person and looked forward to come back to his alma mater to teach and coach. OPS lost a great person, but a few people saw different and wanted him gone. Best wishes to Coach Smith and his family! "

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