CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rossview High Athletic Director Russell Mang has announced the hiring of Drew Smith as the next head coach for the Hawks girls’ basketball team, the fifth in their program’s history. This comes after former head coach Clayton Head stepped down for the position at the end of April.
“It’s incredibly humbling for Mr. Mang and our administration to place their trust in me with this program,” Smith told Clarksville Now. “I know the standard set by Coach Head, Coach Woods, and Coach Padgett, is filled with high expectations, and I look forward to working with our girls toward upholding that standard. We will likely take some lumps early as we develop and as the girls adapt to a new system, but my vision for the program will revolve around consistency. Consistency in the classroom, consistency in our preparation, and consistency in our performance.”
Smith has worked at Rossview High School for the past two years, where he has also served as an assistant coach for the boys’ soccer team, who are competing for a district championship against Clarksville High on Thursday. He said he plans to continue his role with Rossview soccer while taking on this new position.
Previously, he also had served as the head girls’ soccer coach at West Creek High, while also serving as an assistant coach for the girls’ basketball team.
“My entire coaching philosophy comes back to instilling an And-1 Mentality into our players,” said Smith. “I want them to have goals in life and on the court that are bigger than their reasons and excuses. You got fouled? Make the shot anyway. Something didn’t go your way? Succeed anyway. Everything we do will come back to that simple idea. I can’t wait to get started with this group and start adding to Rossview’s standard of pride, tradition and excellence.”