Donald hopes blueprint from Smith will lead SSS to glory
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Whenever a school hires a new football coach, it begins a new era.
On Friday, Smithfield-Selma began a new era and the new decade in a familiar position as they announced the hiring of former E.E. Smith head coach Deron Donald.
The Spartans have had 4 new coaches since their last winning season in 2008. Since 2010, the Spartans are 8-110. Donald led the Golden Bulls to nine wins in 2017 alone, but the new hire knows the history of the program he’s inheriting.
“It’s some of the same dynamics and struggles that we faced at E.E. Smith,” Donald said. “That’s one of the things that made me really want to attack this position because I’ve been through it before.”
Donald has been coaching now for 15 years. Smith was his first head coaching job and he went 16-31 with two playoff appearances, including last season. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Douglas Byrd, Westover and Seventy-First. The native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida played football at and graduated from Fayetteville State, where he won two CIAA conference titles as a defensive back in 2002 and 2003. He said that football became a way of life for him since young.
“Growing up it was a part of who I was,” Donald said. “So many guys from that area went on to play collegiate and pro ball that we had someone to look up to. Training and grinding was a constant for us because for many of us, it was a way out.”
“Any time you go to any city, it’s an opportunity to help kids get their way out. You got to let them understand that you tie that athletic piece with academics and get these guys pushing to be something successful.”
In his time at E.E. Smith, Donald helped send many players to the college level including Randy Franklin to Navy and Markell Samuel to Appalachian State. Donald said his connections with those coaches will be very helpful with the Spartans.
“I’ve talked to coaches from Navy and Carolina, the first thing they wanted to know was if I have any kids let us know,” Donald said. “So we’re going to do all we can to get our guys exposure. Going to different camps, going to 7-on-7 tournaments — just to get the exposure.”
The 40-year-old ball coach is big on the weight room, track and his faith in God. Donald will be in the building during the final months of the school year and said he wants to be a mentor to all the students at Smithfield-Selma.
“It’s not just about the football players — we’re a family here at Smithfield-Selma,” Donald said. “I’m going to be a mentor, a father, a big brother to those that are in need, no matter who they are. We’re here to serve and pull out the best of our young people.”
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