Starting a new job is not an easy feat for anyone, but taking over as the Creek varsity baseball head coach after Marc Johnson’s 52-year tenure is even more difficult.
Yet, Joe Smith was prepared to take on the challenge. And he’s succeeded.
“It’s not about trying to be Coach Johnson. I learned a lot from him, but it’s about being true to myself,” Smith said.
While Johnson had no official say in choosing Smith as the new head coach, Johnson did recommend him. Smith had already been the head JV coach and had been a varsity assistant coach in years prior, leading those around him to believe Smith was best for the job.
“He knew the Cherry Creek community and he knew the kids,” Johnson said.
All coaches have different strategies: Smith describes his coaching method as stricter compared to Johnson’s. But for the players, the differences are few and far between most players who’ve learned under both Johnson and Smith believe both are good coaches who carry the team well.
Senior starting pitcher Ryan Falke played for both coaches and believes they both have helped him grow as a player. From game plans to practices, both coaches have given it their all.
“I’ve been very blessed and just lucky to be coached by both, by two such great coaches,” Falke said.
Smith tries to constantly better himself and improve his coaching. Throughout the season, Smith has focused on how he can work towards being a better coach.
“How can I be one percent better? And how can I be the best coach I can be?” Smith said.
Smith plans to build relationships with lower-level coaches and bring more connections between the different levels. Because the freshman and sophomore teams practice over on the Greenwood Village fields and the varsity team practices on Creek’s Tom McCollum field, Smith wants to get facilities over on the Greenwood Village fields so the fields are more equal.
“It’s about those lower levels and supporting them and building up the facilities over at Greenwood Village,” Smith said.
Smith wants every player, whether they’re on varsity or freshman, to feel as though they have a place at Creek.
“I try to just make sure every kid in the program knows that I care about them,” he said.
Smith hopes to continue building the program and promoting a positive environment for the players. For Smith, baseball is much more than winning; it’s a community and support system for the athletes.
“It’s not necessarily about the wins and losses, but it’s about building a program and a family,” he said.
