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The Rebel Walk Q & A: Five questions with Ole Miss head softball coach Mike Smith

The Rebel Walk Q & A: Five questions with Ole Miss head softball coach Mike Smith
Coach Smith 2

Coach Mike Smith won his 800th career game on Tuesday vs. UCA. (Photo credit: Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics)

With the Ole Miss softball team’s 7-0 victory over Central Arkansas Tuesday, Rebels’ head coach Mike Smith earned his 800th career victory.

The Rebel Walk was fortunate to have a short question and answer period with the San Diego native prior to Ole Miss’ next game vs. Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday. First pitch for that game is at 6:30 p.m., and it is set to be broadcast on the SEC Network.

The Rebel Walk (RW): You reached your 800th career win last night; was that number a goal when you started coaching?

Coach Mike Smith: “I never even thought about a number, I just wanted to coach. I thought I was going to coach baseball and got an opportunity to coach softball, and I wanted to build a good program. Of course I wanted to move up and coach in the best conferences with the best players.”

RW: Prior to coming to Ole Miss, you coached at McNeese State, Biola and at California Baptist where you won the 2009 NAIA national title. How did winning a national championship compare to winning your 800th game?

Coach Mark Smith: “There is a lot of difference between the two, 800 is just a number that can be added to and a national championship is about accomplishing a goal. To reach that goal we had to focus each and every step along the way.”

RW: Have you had to change your coaching style and/or philosophy at each level you have coached?

Coach Mark Smith: “Absolutely. Not even just for each level, I have had to change for each different team. The times have changed, too. There was a time when players took a more of a hands-on, old-school approach, and now it is a little different. I know I have to do what is best to make an impact (on players and teams).”

RW: You come from the west coast and in the south, fastpitch softball has only been a reality for about 20 years. Is the south progressing to the point where it is on par with the west coast?

Coach Mark Smith: “Some states play year round like California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, and they are producing a lot of softball talent. There was a time when all the top players were coming from southern California and after they were done playing, they were going home and coaching the next group of great players.

Now, those players are playing all around the country and they are staying in those regions and coaching in college, high school and in travel ball. Mississippi is gaining ground, but some of those young players are playing fastpitch and slowpitch but some are not even playing slowpitch at all and joining travel teams.”

RW: With a national title and 800 wins already on your resume, what are your future goals?

Coach Mark Smith: “Of course qualifying for a regional this year and seeing where that takes us. Ultimately, it is to bring a national championship to the University of Mississippi. I would not have come here if I didn’t think that was possible and it isn’t going to happen overnight, and we laid a foundation for that last year. This year we are putting up some walls — some cinder block walls — and a wooden fence. We have a blueprint for success.”

(Feature image credit: Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics)

Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.

He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.

A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.

Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.

He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.

Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.

About The Author

Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers. He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio. A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series. Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time. He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk. Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.

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