Anthony Smith
12U, Head Coach
#108998
(907) 385-7607
ae.smith@ymail.com
This will be North Stars Baseball 12U Head Coach Anthony Smith’s 5th season at the helm of a Stars team. Beginning his youth coaching journey in Fairbanks in 2012 with IBL recreational Pony Baseball, he got into coaching the same way a lot of us do: when his oldest began to play. Now a USA Baseball A & B Certified Coach (in addition to USA Baseball Umpire Certified), Coach Smith looks forward to a year of growth and discovery for himself, his coaches, and the athletes.
It was his first exposure to the great game of baseball as a kid growing up in Fort Worth, TX that got Anthony hooked initially. He would go on to enjoy playing the game of baseball until his love for the diamond, and baseball overall, took a pause as his time and energy took on a different look: A passion for music. Returning back to the game as an adult catcher, pitcher and right fielder while housed at Air Force duty stations, it was during this time where Coach Smith cultivated his desire to give back to the game through coaching.
You’ll hear “respect” used often when describing Coach Smith’s coaching philosophy. Anthony’s desire to coach his athletes into the necessary requirement of respecting the game, respecting its participants, and respecting oneself are quite evident just by listening to him talk. You won’t find him using overplayed phrases like “strict but fair” and others, and that is on purpose. Anthony is a leader out front. “Leadership begins with being an example,” says Coach Smith. Coach Smith believes in setting his players up for success and giving them the opportunities to shine while holding them accountable for both their actions and playing time.
“I feel every year brings new and memorable experiences. Each year we find new highs and lows and strive to be better than the previous one. From watching little Johnny catch his first fly ball to Tommy hitting his 15th home run, I try to take all of those moments and carry them with me.”
Baseball and music isn’t the only love Anthony found on the Air Force duty station diamond. While stationed at Eielson AFB (a sub community of Fairbanks), he met his wife Stephanie, who was from here in North Pole. In 2008 his oldest son, Aiden, was born. Coach now has 3 boys (Aiden, Logan, and Jaxon) and are expecting our newest addition Zoey at the beginning of May. Together with his family, Anthony has lived in North Pole for the past 14 years and baseball has been a major part of every summer here. With countless hours of volunteering his time for various youth sports and other organizations, Anthony and his bride have devoted a lion’s share of their time into Fairbanks and what it has to offer. His words, “He loves the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. And Baseball.”
