Spencer Smith for Big South Coach of the Year

All of these political ads on TV have gotten me in the campaigning mood. Here is my campaign for Big South Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year…

OK, I realize I have a biased opinion and I realize that the Coach of the Year usually just goes to the team that finishes in first place which will most likely be Charleston Southern. However, I think the Coach of the Year should go to the coach that gets the most out of his team. I give you Spencer Smith.

Let’s take a look at that preseason poll. CSU was picked to finish second; they are in first place by three points over Coastal Carolina. Coastal was picked third, they are in second place. High Point picked fourth is tied for third place with WINTHROP, who was picked seventh. SEVENTH!!! and the Eagles are tied for third just one point out of second and four points out of first.

Winthrop was winless in its first eight matches (0-7-1), but showed improvement throughout. Since conference play began, the Eagles are 3-1-1 with still four matches left in the regular season. Even if the Eagles go 2-2 and finish 5-3-1 in the league it will be a lot better than seventh place.

No one expected anything from this team at the beginning of the year. Everyone said, “It’s going to take some time. Spencer will get them there but this year is going to be tough.” And it was in the beginning but let’s take a close look at those eight losses…umm, four of the losses came in overtime and five are by one goal. Only once has an opponent scored more than two goals in a match (Jacksonville got three).
Coach Smith has done a terrific job with this team and I know the voters for the award will give it to whoever wins the regular season. But is it really a surprise that Charleston Southern, who was picked second and has the best player in the league, is at the top or that Coastal Carolina, who won the league last year is right there. Is that good coaching or just doing what is expected?

If the Eagles finish in the top four, which they are in position to do, Coach Smith deserves this award for keeping the team together through the beginning of the year and making the moves to make this team competitive in the league. Remember, they finished eighth last season. For me this is easily the best coaching job in the league. I am going ahead and casting my vote now, even it slightly biased. Look at the facts and judge for yourself.