Coupeville Sports

Willie Smith, possibly up to shenanigans. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

As he prepares for his exit, let’s hear from the man himself.

It was publicly announced Friday that Willie Smith was stepping down as Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

That puts a cap on his second run in the role, which began in 2016.

Previously Smith, who plans to teach PE one more year, held the AD position from 2005-2010.

He’s been a coach or AD in Coupeville for three decades, after surprising himself by being hired after thinking he had bombed his initial interview with Cow Town administrators.

But now, the man who left Sequim, his alma mater, to start life on Whidbey Island with wife Cherie, has left a long and lasting legacy.

In his letter to Coupeville Schools Superintendent Steve King and CHS/CMS Principal Geoff Kappes, the man at the forefront of Wolf sports talked about his reasons for stepping down, and his hopes for the future.

I am writing to inform you that I am resigning as middle and high school athletic director, effective at the end of the school year.

I am resigning for the following reason(s):

I’ve been either coaching or an athletic director every year of my employment while at Coupeville School District and while it’s been an extremely rewarding and positive experience, I feel like now is the time for me to step away and pursue other challenges.

While choosing to step away I do want to be a resource for the next athletic director during the transitional period.

I believe it will be very important for the next athletic director to have a resource available from somebody that has been in the same position (teacher/athletic director) and can assist them in any way needed.

I believe that the athletic department is in good shape.

It has a solid staff who are caring, professional, hardworking, and understand the importance of athletics in our schools today.

We’ve worked hard to create a positive environment that sees the benefits for all student-athletes no matter what level they may be and values their contributions no matter how big or small.

We have become a fiscally successful and responsible department, tasked with raising nearly all of our own funds for operation without overburdening our very supportive community.

Whomever takes over will be walking into a situation that is successful, education-driven, with high standards and positive contributions to our school district.

With all of that being said the position of athletic director is very vital to the health of our athletic department and continuing the model we have used during my tenure has, and will continue to be, the best model for our programs.

Having a past or current coach as the athletic director creates a bridge for our programs and allows the athletic director to focus on athletics rather than splitting their time among other administrative duties.

While many districts have used the assistant principal/athletic director model, the trend is moving back to a teacher/athletic director model based on the reality of their responsibilities.

Both jobs entail a great amount of time, effort, and focus and the reality is that one area will be focused on while the other is not.

It is my recommendation therefore that Coupeville continue using a current or past coach as the athletic director and not hire an assistant principal to take on the role of athletic director.

I am proud to have served our district, community, and students as the athletic director and as a coach for so many years.

It has been an amazing place for me to raise my family and I am very proud of the work that myself, our coaches, community, and schools have put in to make Coupeville School District a great representative of what a school community should truly look like.

Sincerely,

Willie Smith

“I’m taking my balls and going home!!”