Coaching Career

Coach Craig Smith

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Coach Craig Smith was the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Hopewell High School from 2006-2011.  Smith led the Titans to conference titles in 2006, 2010, and 2011, was named the 2007 ME-CA 4A Coach of the Year, as well as the 2011 I-Meck 4A Coach of the Year. His 2006 squad advanced to the regional quarterfinals ("Sweet 16") of the state play-offs. His 2011 team advanced to the state quarterfinals ("Elite Eight") and finished the season ranked #10 in the Top Ten NCHSTCA State Poll. His 2010 and 2011 teams went undefeated in the I-MECK conference, posting a 109-8 individual match record in conference play. Smith was recognized as the Lake Norman Herald and Lake Norman Times Coach of Year in 2010. In 2011, he was recognized as the Herald Weekly, Carolina Weekly Lake Norman Area, and Lake Norman Times Coach of the Year.

Smith's teams have won 82% (36-8 record) of their conference dual matches and 75% (75-25) of their regular season dual matches. Twenty-eight of his athletes have qualified for regional competition, and he has coached five state qualifiers. Smith has guided twenty-two players voted to the All-Conference team, coached five Conference Tournament Singles Champions, two Conference Tournament Doubles Champions, and had one ME-CA 4A Player of the Year, Ryan Veatch, named in 2007.
Most recently, he partnered with RDU Tennis to provide clinics at Cowan's Ford in Stanley, NC in 2013.  Smith has worked at Charlotte Racquet Club North as a tennis teaching professional, and also has spent time at Skybrook Tennis Club as the Assistant Tennis Pro.  He was very active in USTA competition, playing in numerous Lake Norman Men's Leagues.


In addition to his tennis coaching career, Smith also served as an Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach in Michigan for multiple seasons before moving to North Carolina.  He also assisted the Ashbrook (Gastonia, NC) Varsity Boys Basketball program, when needed, during his time as Assistant Principal.

While living in Michigan, Smith worked for the Whitehall Summer Tennis Program and the Muskegon Summer Tennis Program. He also served on the Board of the North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association from 2007 to 2009 and served as a conference representative.

Coach Smith's Year-by-Year Results

YearWLPct.Conference
2006136.684First (9-1)
200796.600Third (6-4)
2008135.722Second (5-1)
2009106.625Third (4-2)
2010153.833First (5-0)
2011184.818First (7-0)
Total7830.72236-8 (.818)


Headline Articles


Hopewell boys tennis coach steps down

Smith leaving Hopewell

Smith named Lake Norman COTY

Titan Tennis succeeds with grass roots effort

Hopewell makes school history

Titan tennis undefeated again

Hopewell finishes in Top Ten 

Hopewell seizes control of I-Meck

Hopewell scores top-ten victory

All-Lake Norman Awards

Individual Accolades