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JCC welcomes Rick Smith as head baseball coach
Jackson Community College is pleased to announce that Rick Smith, former coach of St. Clair County Community College baseball, has accepted the position as head coach of the new JCC Jets baseball team. Smith began his new position last week and is starting to meet with recruits this week.
"I was interested in the opportunities available with this being a new program," Smith said. Also, his wife, Elly Teunion-Smith, is the department head of the criminal justice program for Siena Heights University at Jackson Community College, and the couple relocated to Adrian. Smith spent the last year commuting to St. Clair in Port Huron, staying there through the week and coming home to his wife and their two children, Hunter, 10, and Laura, 5, on weekends, and he wasn't looking forward to doing that again.
He has been out to a few summer games already scouting potential players.
"This should be an exciting year. We've had some recruits in already, and I am on the recruiting trail to put together a good first-year team," Smith said. "So far, the process has been delightful. I've been welcomed with open arms, and I like the communication throughout the school. It is definitely exciting. I do know the Jackson area, but not as good as I should know it in a couple of weeks."
Smith had coached for St. Clair County for 16 years, winning 348 games and four Michigan Community College Athletic Association titles in his career. He is a graduate of Marysville High School and earned an Associate of Arts degree from St. Clair Community College in 1982. He continued at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1986. He earned a Master of Arts degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1998. He served as administrator of athletics for Memphis Community Schools in Memphis, Mich., for five years, and served as assistant baseball coach for Grand Valley State University for five years. He also brings experience in business, having served as store manager for eight years for an Independent Floor Covering store in Port Huron.
Smith will also serve as an adjunct instructor in JCC's health and physical fitness program. At St. Clair, he taught a number of undergraduate physical education courses, and will teach wellness classes at JCC.
"I'm looking forward to building the program from ground level," Smith said.
