Australian coach making his mark at Central Lafourche

With a sudden jolt, Central Lafourche Trojans head basketball coach Brett Smith jumps out of his cushioned folding chair and yells with his firm Australian accent, “He didn’t touch the ball,” arguing with a questionable officiating call.

Luckily for Smith, that was one of the few things in question as his Trojans defeated the South Terrebonne Gators for their 15th win of the season.

Considering the Trojans only won three games last season, 30-year-old Smith is certainly making the most of his first-ever head coaching opportunity.

After the road he’s been on, he expected nothing less from himself.

Growing up in Sydney, Australia, Smith didn’t do the things his peers did. Instead, he picked up a basketball and began dribbling.

For the 6-foot-7-inch hooper, it was the start of something special, and he knew he wanted to make his living at basketball.

As a foreign exchange student in Walker, La., Smith was his high school team’s center. After a stellar high school career, he had the opportunity to return home. Instead, he accepted a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Following his four-year stint as a Ragin’ Cajun, Smith returned to his homeland to play pro ball, but a lingering injury forced him to explore other options. That’s when he returned to America, this time for good.

For a total of 12 years off and on, Smith has called the U.S. home.

“My assistant coach in Australia was the head coach at the University of North Alabama and he offered me an assistant job so I could stay involved in basketball,” he said. “So I ended up there.”

His stint at North Alabama was brief. When the opportunity came to work as an assistant basketball coach at Nicholls – which, coincidentally, included several Australian players – he decided to move to Thibodaux.

However, things didn’t work out at Nicholls, either. Smith married his college sweetheart Erin, and became an assistant for the Trojans last season.

For the man from Down Under whose love of basketball came at a young age, it was a chance to bring a bit of the fundamental Australian game to Mathews.

But being an assistant didn’t cure the itch and Smith’s desire to be a head coach grew stronger.

When he came to the U.S., Smith dreamed of coaching basketball, and with the area’s sound history on the high school hardwood, he knew where to start. When former Trojan coach Paul Paille elected to return home after last season, Smith saw the job opening as a sign, so he applied.

In the offseason, Smith was officially named the head coach at Central Lafourche.

During his time as the Trojans’ head coach, Smith has made it a point to instill the right attitude in his players.

“It’s getting the kids to believe in what we are trying to teach,” the coach said. “I was here last year as an assistant and you can tell the kids weren’t believing in themselves. It showed in their performance on the court.”

“I had to build that relationship and get them to believe they can win,” he added.

Smith has had to deal with adjustments on the court during his time in the states.

Although he says there isn’t much difference between basketball in the two countries, he made it clear that fundamentals is needed a lot more in America’s teens.

“In Australia, fundamentals are really pushed big time,” Smith explained. “Here, it’s a lot more athleticism. In that aspect, that is the biggest thing. But there isn’t much difference in the coaching. Everyone has the same goal.”

Smith’s ultimate goal is leading his team to the playoffs. Before the season’s start, that looked impossible, but with the team buying into his game plan, Smith believes it is not out of the question.

“We’re not a top team yet,” he said. “We know in order to get into the playoffs we have to play well against the top teams like Thibodaux and South Lafourche. From a playoff perspective, we have to beat those top teams to stay alive.”

But Smith is used to challenges, and he believes his team is ready.

One challenge Smith hasn’t had yet will test his will within the next few weeks. Smith and his wife are expecting their first child, something he embraces.

“We’re excited,” he said. “The day can’t come fast enough.”

Until then, his focus will remain on his team and their playoff aspirations, while he brings the true outback flare to the Trojans’ sidelines.

Australian countryman Brett Smith talks to his team during a District 8-5A game earlier in the season. Smith, in his first year as head coach of the Central Lafourche Trojans, has already led the team to more wins (15) than last season (3). * Photo by KYLE CARRIER