Nowata High boys basketball coach steps away due to family opportunity
When he arrived in 2021 to take charge of the Nowata High School boys basketball program, Nathan Smith took on a titanic task.
First, he took the place of an outgoing popular coach that had become the Ironmen’s all-time leading winner. Second, the Ironmen suffered a tremendous talent drain to graduation.
Needless to say, if Smith was the kind of coach that lacked the mettle to remain resolute in adversity, the story of Ironmen hoops the past two seasons might have been completely different.
As it was, Smith not only met the challenge, he thrived in it. But, now his time is up — unexpected and premature as it is.
Smith has resigned in order to move to Kentucky with his wife, who has obtained a prestigious administrative position at Eastern Kentucky University.
Nowata began advertising earlier this week for a new coach.
Smith’s successor will step into a well-oiled operation, albeit he’ll have to account for the loss of senior Skylar Stevens, a gritty component in the 20-7 season last winter. But, other key pieces are set to return.
Even though he had just two years, Smith weaved together a colorful pattern of success.
He guided Nowata to a cumulative 36-13 record and playoff success. The Ironmen clawed to the regional final this past February, losing by two points in a game that could have catapulted them into the area tournament.
While Smith accepts the move to the Kentucky as the best thing for his family at this stage, loading up the furniture and driving past the Oklahoma state line are not going to be happy tasks.
“A lot of it has been my dream job,” he said about his time in Nowata. “Last year, win won our conference championship for the first time since 1988. The kids are the one that have done all the work. Nowata has some great, hard-working kids. I feel I’ve just been along for the ride. I’ll really miss Nowata.”
Smith feels he transfused a sense of symbiotic cohesion and identity into his players.
For me, I think I brought a team mentality,” he said. “I let them know it was not going to be about one or two guys, but it would be about everybody on the roster. … Everybody was going to have an impact and a role on the team. … I told them we had to do it with everybody.”
He’s enthused about his first season (2021-22) when Nowata strung together a 16-6 record to surprise the naysayers.
This past season, the Ironmen’s highlights included sweeping Dewey, sweeping Oklahoma Union, beating Top 10-ranked Ketchum and capturing a district title.
Beyond the success, Smith said he’ll miss working with the Ironmen players.
“I’m just so glad I got to be in Nowata. … I’m just so thankful I got to be a part of it.”
Smith said he’s excited about the chance to coach in Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Nowata High School Athletic Director Homer Johnston eyes the unenviable task of leading the search for a new head coach.
Smith did a “fantastic job,” Johnston said. “I wish he wasn’t leaving.”
“We definitely want someone to build relationships with the kids and to help get the most we can out of them,” Johnston continued, adding that Nowata generally doesn’t have the biggest kids or the strongest kids or the fastest kids, but seems to rise above the test.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Departing Nowata High head boys basketball coach fostered success
