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Sports

Northwest Girls Basketball Coach Steps Down

Second-year coach Rob Smith resigns after leading one of the best seasons in the school's history.

UPDATED 9:36 a.m.: After guiding the Northwest Jaguars girls basketball team to its first regular season division title in a decade and a berth in the regional finals in the Maryland Class 4A playoffs, head coach Rob Smith has announced his resignation.

The 30-year-old, second-year coach who orchestrated one of the most prolific seasons in the Germantown school's history is stepping down to spend more time with his family. Smith has two sons and his wife is expecting the couple's third son in June.

"It was a very hard decision," Smith said. "It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. Basketball is a long season and I want to be home more with all three of the boys. My oldest is starting to play sports also, and I don’t want to miss it."

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Smith coached at Trinity High School in Washington, D.C., and Poolesville, his alma mater, for one season before taking the head coach job at Northwest prior to the 2009 season. Smith's resignation comes just weeks after his counterpart on the boys’ side, Jesse Irvin, , citing family reasons as the main factor.

Smith told the school's administration and director of athletics, Jim Tapley.

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“Rob did a great job,” said Tapley. “We were very pleased with what he accomplished here, especially with how he interacted with the kids—challenging them in a way that made them want to compete and play even harder. He did a great job on and off the court.”

Smith then told two of his top players, Camry Torian and Carla Batchelor, a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention selection last season.

Torian and Batchelor, who have started at Northwest since their sophomore year, will return as seniors next season and will be key in carrying on the momentum from this year. After a 1-4 start, Northwest rolled off 17 straight wins and finished with the second-best record in the county behind state-champion Gaithersburg, which defeated the Jaguars in the regional finals in March. 

"I've had those two with me since I started," said Smith. "I wanted to explain to them my decision and just let them know how hard it was for me personally."

Despite his feelings that Northwest is primed to be "one of the top public school teams in the area" next season, Smith said he had to make the decision for his family. 

Interviews for both the boys and girls head coaching positions will begin in May. Smith did not rule out the possibility of coaching basketball in the future. 

"I love coaching," said Smith, who also coaches the boys’ volleyball team and teaches social studies at Northwest. "The relationships you build and watching players grow is very rewarding, and returning is something I'll consider down the road as my kids get older. But right now, it's all about my family."

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