East Mississippi Community College has rounded out its coaching staff this week with the additions of former Mississippi State University football players and teammates Michael Story and Maurice Smitherman as assistant coaches.
Story, a former Bulldog offensive lineman and 2019 MSU graduate, has been on the Lions’ staff the last two seasons and was elevated to a full-time spot this week with a focus on working with the offensive line. During his playing days at MSU he was a part of an offensive line that featured two-time NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and reigning Super Bowl champion Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks.
Smitherman, who played as a defensive back at MSU and also is a 2019 graduate, will work with EMCC’s defensive backs in his first year with the program. Story and Smitherman both redshirted during MSU’s 2015 football season and helped the Bulldogs reach five bowl games during their Starkville stint.
“It’s truly an honor to be a part of this great EMCC coaching staff under the leadership of Hall of Famer Buddy Stephens,” Story said in a release. “He genuinely cares about the players while combining a little mixture of old school and new school styles of coaching. It’s great working with him and learning from him as we all strive to maintain EMCC’s championship tradition.”
Before Story joined the team in Scooba he got his first taste of coaching at his prep alma mater in Ripley as an offensive line coach. Story, a former three-star recruit, helped the team reach the Class 4A playoffs three straight times.
During his previous two seasons at EMCC, Story helped mentor a pair of All-Region 23 offensive linemen in Braxton Goff (Tarleton State) and Kison Shepard (Mississippi State). He also helped former Lions Mike Wallace Jr. (Kennesaw State), Roscoe Tucker (ULM), Wes Thompson (Texas Rio Grande Valley) and SharDez Taylor (Alcorn State) move on to the university level.
Smitherman joins the team from the Alabama high school coaching ranks. The Adamsville, Ala., native most recently coached at Thompson High School in Alabaster and helped the Warriors claim the program’s sixth AHSAA Class 7A state football championship in the last seven years as the safeties coach.
As a safety at MSU, Smitherman was a part of a defensive secondary that did not allow a single touchdown in pass coverage during the 2018 regular season. Smitherman went on to have a stint in the XFL under his MSU position coach Terrell Buckley, who is now the head coach of Mississippi Valley State University.
“Joining the EMCC family is an incredible opportunity and a true blessing. I’m honored to have the chance to work alongside Coach Buddy Stephens and excited to contribute to the Lions’ continued success,” Smitherman said in a release. “EMCC’s championship tradition, commitment to excellence and family atmosphere make Scooba a very special place.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
