Mike Smith from Lee County, VA came to the Peninsula in the mid-1960’s and built a powerhouse football program over 50+ years at Hampton High School. After serving as an assistant coach for the Crabbers from 1965-1970, Smith took over as head football coach in 1971 and over the course of 51 seasons on the sidelines led the Crabbers to a Virginia High School League record 12 state championships. His 1996 and 1997 teams were also crowned National Champions. In total, Smith won 506 games as head coach at Hampton, which ranks him 3rd on the all-time list nationally. He was named State Coach of the Year 17 times, and National Coach of the Year in 1996, as selected by the National High School Coaches Association. Over the course of his career at Hampton, Smith would coach numerous players that would go on to play in college and the NFL. He is a 4-time recipient of the Peninsula Sports Club’s Sportsperson of the Year award, and the only multiple time winner. Additional honors include the Award of Merit from the National High School Coaches Association, Virginia High School Hall of Fame (1990 inductee, inaugural class), Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame (2010), and the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Lower Virginia Peninsula (1992).
