Georgia College's Smith moving on after two decades in Milledgeville

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Maurice Smith played at Georgia College, and then was an assistant coach for men’s boss Terry Sellers and women’s boss John Carrick.

          Then he took over the women’s basketball program when Carrick resigned nearly a decade ago.

          But after almost two decades with the Bobcats, Smith is moving to Florida.

          Flagler College announced Sunday that Smith was taking over its women’s program.

          Flagler athletics director Jud Damon spent one year at Georgia College in that position, 2008-09.

          Smith was promoted in April of 2010 to become the program’s sixth head coach, following Carrick, who held the job for 27 years.

          “He is much more than an outstanding coach, and his authentic and positive impact has been felt not only in our department, but throughout our campus, and all over our community,” Georgia College athletics director Wendell Staton said in a release. “Mo was the first coach I hired at Georgia College and I am forever grateful that he has been with me each day in creating our positive culture that Graduates Champions for Life."

          Smith leaves Georgia College with a 131-123 mark in nine seasons with three trips to the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship game, and the 2011 PBC tournament title. Nine players have earned all-conference honors, and Smith had coached a pair of academic All-American and two valedictorians.

          “Mo Smith has established himself as one of the most respected women’s basketball coaches in the Southeast, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our Flagler family,” Damon said in a release. “Beyond his proven track record as a highly successful head coach in our league, Mo is a tremendous human being who will serve as an inspirational mentor and leader for our student-athletes.”

          Smith replaces Erika Lang-Montgomery, who left in May to join the staff at Florida as an assistant. She has the program’s highest win total at 111, and left 111-158. She also had the job for four more years than anybody else. The program’s first year was 1971-72.

          The Saints went 21-8 last year – the third 20-win season in program history - and 17-5 in the Peach Belt, sweeping Georgia College, 84-53 and 68-45.

          Flagler lost 71-68 in overtime to Columbus State in the conference tournament quarterfinal. There were only three seniors on last year’s roster.

          Smith graduated from old Sumter County and then played at Wallace State Community College in Alabama before joining the Bobcats.

          “"My growth personally and professionally is a direct result from the fertile soil and environment Georgia College has created, and Wendell has been instrumental by providing the nourishment needed for me to grow into who I am today,” Smith said in a release. “My time spent here as a student-athlete was one of the best experiences a young person could ask for. It paved the way for relationships that will be cemented for a lifetime.”

          He and wife Martine have two daughters.

          “Timing is everything. My family and I, my wife and I in particular, we don’t make any move just to make it,” Smith told the St. Augustine Record. “We’re prayerful about anything we do and everything we do. When this opportunity afforded itself, it was a feel I just couldn’t shake.

“I really didn’t have a lot of ambition to move, but, if it were to be a great situation, I knew Flagler would be that situation.”