PONTIAC, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater High School girls basketball coach Ken Smoker was named to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan’s Hall of Honor over the weekend in Pontiac.
Smoker has dedicated nearly four decades to Michigan high school athletics, impacting countless lives as both a coach and official.
He and his wife of 30 years Ann are the parents of Carlee, Brent, and Emilee. His love for basketball has been a guiding force throughout his life.
His journey began as a coach at Bronson Jr./Sr. High School, where he led teams in girls’ junior varsity basketball and boys’ seventh grade basketball.
His passion for the sport eventually led him to officiating where he became a highly respected Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) basketball official from 1989-2012, working alongside longtime partners Brian Saltzgaber and Randy Spangler.
Smoker was selected to work the MHSAA boys or girls state finals weekend 11 times. His officiating career also extended to the collegiate level, where he made his mark in women’s NCAA basketball from 1997-2013.
Smoker was selected to officiate six NCAA Women’s Division III National Tournaments and ten Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament championship games.
He attributes much of his early success to mentors like Don Vandergeest, who gave him his first varsity schedule and Joe Cooper, who opened the door to collegiate officiating.
Smoker also served as a referee trainer for the South Central Officials Association.
In 2012, Ken transitioned back to coaching, becoming the head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Coldwater High School.
Over the past decade, his teams have won two Interstate 8 Conference championships and four MHSAA Division 1 District titles.
Smoker was named BCAM Region 4 Coach of the Year in both 2018 and 2023.
He has worked as a baseball umpire, where he was selected as the home plate umpire in four MHSAA state championship games and honored as the American Amateur Baseball Congress’s Regional Umpire of the Year in 2002 and 2003 and it’s National Umpire of the Year in 2003.
Smoker recently retired from teaching after 36 years as an elementary physical education teacher for Coldwater Community Schools.
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