When East Surry takes the court tonight at 5:30 for its Western Regional semifinal against Hiwasee Dam at UNCG, long-time Coach Robert Smith will not be on the sideline.
Smith, who coached at East Surry for the past 22 seasons, retired effective Feb. 28. State-employment law won't allow him to work again for six months, despite his offer to volunteer until the completion of the season.
Smith, who guided East Surry to a 25-5 record this season, said that he made the decision to retire back in September and knew that his team advancing to the Western Regional was a distinct possibility at the time.
"That was the risk I took, and of course now I come out looking really dumb," Smith said. "But because the Department of Public Instruction mandates that retirees cannot work for a state institution for a period of six months, I can't coach or have any contact with the team in an official capacity without risking losing my retirement benefits."
Smith said he informed the team when the season started that this would be his last, but that they didn't find out he would not be coaching them in the Western Regional until after last Friday's Sectional final win against Mount Airy.
"I was very emotional after that win, and everybody kept asking me ‘Why?' Smith said. "There were only a few people who knew that Feb. 28 was it, so it wasn't until after the game and we were in the locker room that I told the team. Let me tell you, that was tough. I guess I can say that I went out a winner, but it's not the ideal way to end it, that's for sure. My biggest regret is that I can't see it through until the end."
Smith, East Surry Principal Tony Hall, Athletics Director Barry Hall and Surry County administrators met at the beginning of February to work on a contingency plan for a new coach if the Cardinals did advance to Regional play.
Brent Long, an assistant principal at East Surry and the father of Kelsey Long, the Northwest 1-A Player of the Year, will take over the coaching reins for the Cardinals. He coached basketball for over 15 years at Alleghany. Assistant Coach Wendy Williams will still be on the sideline.
"We exhausted every lead we could to see if he could volunteer until the season was complete," Tony Hall said. "And everywhere we turned; we kept hearing ‘No'. Coach Smith didn't want to risk someone reporting him to the DPI (Department of Public Instruction) about working while he was officially retired."
Smith said that he will be in Greensboro for the games, but will see the game a little differently while he sits in the stands as a spectator.
"I can still yell at referees," Smith said with a laugh. "And I won't have to worry about getting a technical (foul)."
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