Corey Smith takes over as head coach this season for the West Fork boys golf team, stepping into the role after several years of involvement in the district and a recent transition into teaching.
“About four or five years ago, I jumped on board with the girls basketball program here. So I’ve been in the district, gotten to know a lot of the staff and kids here,” says Smith. “So, grown to love it. And then last year, made a career change, got out of sales, jumped over to teaching. And I’m in my first year of teaching sixth grade, and I’m here in the building at West Fork in Sheffield. So as soon as the job got posted, I was pumped. I was like, ‘Gosh, I love golf.’ Been playing it for a long time and just felt like a natural fit.”
Smith inherits a program coming off a state-qualifying season, finishing 12-2 in Top of Iowa Conference play and 36-8 overall.
With early-season practices underway, Smith says the program’s recent success sets a high standard, but he believes this year’s group can remain competitive.
“If we can carry over from what we’ve had the past couple of years, I know that might be a tall task,” says Smith. “The success level has been incredibly high. It was just a couple of years ago we got second at state. I don’t know if our ceiling is that high, but I don’t want to hold these guys back. They’re working hard and I think they’ve got the talent to get pretty far.”
The Warhawks open the season April 6 at a Top of Iowa Conference triangular at Rice Lake Golf and Country Club in Lake Mills.
