Today we’d like to introduce you to Terell Smith.
Hi Terell, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up I was not always the biggest, fastest, or strongest athlete. In a house with 5 other siblings, we were taught that nothing is given to you and to treat everyone with the same respect you would want to be given since you never know anyone’s situation. This stuck with me as I begin playing sports and being exposed to different coaches, friends, and peers. Since I was always the smallest, I had to show through my hard work that I deserved a spot on the field. Whether it be football, basketball, or track, I had to work harder to prove myself to others. In high school, I began to grow my love of basketball even more and put in extra work to sharpen my skills. My aunt moved me to a different school in order to have better educational opportunities despite the economic hardships we had growing up. Moving to a different environment allowed me to create my own identity as a young adult and athlete. I was still smaller than everyone else, but my hard work showcased. I remember being a star athlete in high school but coming home, and my aunt asking me, “How are your grades” or “Did you get in trouble today.” She instilled a mindset in me that no matter how good I was in basketball, being a good person was even more important, and she didn’t praise me at games or at home for any accolades I received through athletics.
When I went off to college, I knew it would be hard. Over the summer, I had my growth spurt and grew to the height I am today. I started at Spartanburg Methodist College, where I met some of my closest friends who are still a part of my story today. My coach gave us a huge wake-up call and really taught me how to grow up. The life lessons he instilled are one of the main reasons I am who I am today. He was hard on us but gained a level of respect that has carried me through my adulthood. Him along with the fact that I financially did not have what other students had, helped me see that my work effort means even more. After junior college, I transferred to Limestone and encountered other peers who shared a similar story. This is where I continued my basketball career and grew bonds. I was given the opportunity after college to play basketball overseas. I played overseas for 3 years in different countries like China and England. After my overseas career, I moved to Charlotte and played semi-professional for 6 years. While having my first son, I wanted to have a backup plan, so worked for Verizon to have some stability. After a few years of working at Verizon, I knew something was missing. I was still playing basketball locally but had a passion burning to help and train other kids who may have a similar story. I thought about where I would have ended up if I had a mentor or trainer at an early age and what that would have instilled in my outside of the coaches who pushed me day in and day out.
With my life experiences and the relationships I built, I decided to step out on faith and start Smith Elite Training. My wife supported my decision while I left Verizon and worked as a contract trainer at the YMCA in Baxter Village. My philosophy has always been bigger than basketball and teaching kids the right way to play by building their development. I did not want the biggest, fastest, or strongest kids, and started with one client who I worked with every day. I wanted the kids who would work hard and wanted to get better. This philosophy helped grow my clientele and brought additional opportunities of starting my own travel basketball organization. I first got experience as a coach for another organization that a family member started, and from there, I started Smith Elite Basketball. What started as one team has now grown to 7 teams across elementary, middle, and high school. Each year I strive to become a better trainer and coach, and I am blessed with all the opportunities and relationships created along the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve experienced the normal challenges of starting a business as a minority along with building an organization. Not a lot of people trust in the process, and you have to learn that everyone may not buy into what you want for your business, and that is okay. Work/life balance has also been a challenge as the more business that comes, the more it pulls me away from my family. Our life becomes encompassed with basketball, and we have to be intentional about making time as a family. As I grow, finding gym space is also an obstacle. I am challenged with finding ideal space that would accommodate my growing business while still looking for opportunities to own something on my own and gain the capital needed while still supporting my family.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a basketball trainer, mentor, and coach. What sets me apart is my coaching philosophy and style. I am most proud of the growth I’ve seen in my players year after year and the success of my teams. When the teams and parents buy into what I am coaching, the success feels so much different. My style is different, whereas I focus on defense along with team concepts and not a lot of individual offensive skills. If asked, folks would probably say my defensive focus is what sets me apart.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like the variety of different backgrounds I encounter here in Charlotte. This is growing city, so there is a lot of competition, but it keeps me on my toes. Because of that, there is kind of a monopoly in this line of work, and you really have to be open in reference to what you offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: Smithelitetraining.com
- Instagram: Smith_elite_training
