South Lenoir coach honored by state athletic association

South Lenoir High coach and athletic director Lisa Smith accepts the Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award from Jerry Simmons, principal of New Bern High School and Region 2 representative to the N.C. High School Athletic Association board.

A South Lenoir High School coach who has led her teams to hundreds of wins is a winner herself as recipient of one of the highest honors bestowed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Lisa Smith, the school’s athletic director for the past 11 years and its volleyball and softball coach for more than two decades, was recently awarded the Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her contribution to high school athletics on the local and state level.

The award is given in each region to an individual with at least 10 years’ experience in education and athletics who is still active in the field and who stands out as both a coach and a leader.

“I am truly humbled and honored to receive the Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award,” Smith said. “Over the past 26 years, I have had and continue to have the privilege to work with some of the best administrators, coaches, students, athletes and community members around. I am so grateful to have found a family at South Lenoir and a community that helps and cares so much for each other.”

As head volleyball coach at South Lenoir, Smith has compiled a record of 377 wins and 169 loses over 26 years, led her teams to 14 conference championships and been named conference coach of the year six times.

As head softball coach for the past 21 years, she holds a record of 348 wins and 126 losses, 11 conference championships and five-time coach of the year honors. Her teams have won one regional softball title, been runner-up twice, made three Final Four appearances in the state playoffs and finished second in the state. In 2008, Smith was named Region 2 Coach of the Year.

According to the NCHSAA, Charlie Adams, the award’s namesake, “always placed the integrity of high school athletics above personal accolades. Citing organization and preparation as fundamental touchstones for success, he insisted that loving what you do was of tantamount importance. Throughout his distinguished service to the people of North Carolina, he was a source of knowledge, wisdom and encouragement, a best friend to all. With all his accomplishments, Charlie remained a person of humility.”