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‘Big shoes to fill’ - Newly appointed head coach Richard Smith relishes chance at leading KC’s Champs charge
October 10, 2025
Newly appointed head coach of the Kingston College (KC) track and field team, Richard Smith, says he has received tremendous support from the school community as he seeks to deliver the institution's 37th Boys' Championship title in 2026.
Smith, 40, replaces veteran coach Leaford Grant, who stepped down at the end of the last season after leading KC to five Boys' Championship titles in the last six years.
"Things are looking up so far in terms of me being the head coach of Kingston College's track because all the coaches have been very cooperative with me and the boys have also responded to training well and they are looking great as we start our journey for the 2026 title, which will be title 37 for us," said Smith.
"Things have been going great since I took over and we are looking good and everyone is very positive as we move forward into this season," he said.
TREMENDOUS SUPPORT
Smith, who has been at the institution for the past 13 years, added that he is not under tremendous pressure from anyone at the school because everyone has been very supportive of his appointment.
"I wouldn't say there is a lot of pressure on me as yet because when the track season really starts that is when I expect the pressure will come down on me as everybody is expecting me to perform and continue our winning streak at the ISSA Boys' Championships going forward," he said.
"I am very confident because I was a part of the past five successful titles and so I am very grateful for it and I know that it is big shoes to fill, but I know that I can hold my own and move forward. The support has been great in terms of the elders and all the old boys at KC because they have been very supportive of me in terms of me leading the team forward and to continue the reign for the championships," he explained.
Smith, an Edith Dalton James High School old boy, has been a key figure in KC's track and field success over the years. He previously coached the school's 400m athletes and guided KC to four consecutive Championship of Americas 4x400m titles at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
MASTER'S DEGREE
He holds a Master's Degree in Physical Education and Sports from the International School of Physical Education and Sport in Havana, Cuba, and represented Edith Dalton James in the 200 metres at the 2004 ISSA Boys' Championships.
He underlined that even though he is not a KC old boy, many people assume he is because of his passion and commitment to the North Street-based institution, since joining over a decade ago as a physical education teacher.
"I am not a KC old boy, but a lot of KC old boys think that I am a KC old boy because of how I treat the school and in terms of how I take care of the boys and so forth because whatever I am doing, I am doing it 100 per cent."
Smith also noted that he has received support from his Edith Dalton James High family, who have been sending him best wishes following his appointment as KC's head coach.
He underscored that while he has never coached at his alma mater, he has always assisted the school in whatever way he can.
"It is very great because it shows that I have a lot of leadership qualities coming from a small school and moving to a much bigger school; and I have gotten a lot of support from my school as well. To see that I was able to leave a young school and take up a bigger role at such a big school is great for me," Smith pointed out.
