The community and s
chool district of Hopkins is buzzing about the recent explosion of controversy over Hopkins varsity basketball coach Darrin Smith.
Retiring Hopkins Township Clerk Lisa Battjes late last week initiated a petition to have Smith removed as basketball coach after four seasons and she counted 20 signatures. The matter was brought before the Hopkins Board of Education Monday night.
A counter movement has responded by supporting him and initiating a petition to keep Smith at his job.
Hopkins High School graduate Zack Harig posted, “Coming from someone who played for him for three seasons, Darrin Smith stands behind his players and helps players become not only better players, but better people as well. Basketball is a sport where not everyone gets to play, not everyone gets a participation trophy, and coaches are always the bad guys by making difficult decisions. Darrin has strengthened the youth programs throughout Hopkins and has worked to better the future of the program. We are defending Darrin Smith as the Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Hopkins High School.”
Battjes, in her post, asserted, ““Darrin Smith lacks the necessary skills and abilities to coach basketball effectively. He demonstrates extreme nepotism and unfair practices, where he exhibits intimidation and bullying.”
Detractors of Battjes’ effort have said she was motivated because her son was cut by Smith from the basketball team.
Smith’s teams’ records in his four seasons at the helm were 8-13, 5-15, 10-12 and 6-16, competing in the O-K Silver Conference, which includes basketball powerhouses Godwin Heights, Grandville Calvin Christian and Grand Rapids Northpointe Christian.
The official Hopkins Public School web site has urged fairness and caution in the wake of the public disagreements.
The site says, “As many of you know, there is currently some controversy surrounding our boys’ basketball program. No matter what side of the issue you are on, the district asks that you refrain from any negative references to our student athletes. Please continue to provide positive support to all of our students as they represent Hopkins Public Schools.”
A letter to the editor on this site outlined the grievances of some parents against Smith, a Wayland High School graduate, charging him with favoritism and nepotism, but the other side said the coach is merely doing his job by deciding who he believes will help the team be successful.
It is highly unusual for school officials to remove a coach from a program at the start of the season unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Being a coach is way more then winning and losing. It is a hard and very rewarding task but it has negatives as well. Go out and try it you whiners. Someone has to do it. Try it and then criticize.