Smith to Remain Coach at Bolingbrook High School

Bolingbrook High School girls basketball head coach Tony Smith has decided to stay with the Raiders after all.

Less than a week after Eastern Michigan University girls basketball head coach AnnMarie Gilbert said Smith was to be the Eagles' newest assistant coach, Smith has reportedly decided to remain in Bolingbrook.

"Eastern Michigan is a great university and I was flattered when they wanted me to coach there. You always would like to coach where you went to college. It was a great opportunity I had and I loved the coaching staff," Smith told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday. "But there's just something about Bolingbrook. Bolingbrook is my home and I really couldn't face the team and tell them that I was leaving. The whole community has been so positive here."

Eastern Michigan Assistant Media Relations Director Greg Steiner said Monday that Smith had already filled out the necessary paper work to become an Eastern Michigan employee.

But Smith sent the university a letter on Tuesday that informed the school of his decision to return to Bolingbrook High School for a tenth season.

Eastern Michigan announced Smith's hiring Sept. 10 on its website, but almost immediately, rumors swirled that Smith was still unsure.

But by Monday, the university had rescinded its announcement and Steiner said Smith may have been having second thoughts.

Smith, an Eastern Michigan alumnus, built the Raiders into a statewide and national powerhouse for girls basketball during his nine-year tenure as coach. He is the winningest coach in school history with a 247-26 record and has helped lead the Lady Raiders to a 2A State Championship in 2006 and a 4A State Championship in 2009 and 2010.

"I have made my decision now and that's it. Some people might not like how I handled it, but you live and learn. I will learn from this experience," Smith told the Sun-Times. "I've been asked why stay at Bolingbrook by colleges because we accomplished a lot. I tell them that we have a team that can be greater and better than the last team. We don't aim just to remain great."

Gilbert, who has recruited several Raider players from Smith in the past, said Smith was a proven winner that strived to be the best in everything he does.

"He's been chasing that dream in high school to attain that No. 1 ranking in high school programs nationally," Gilbert said.

Smith, thanks to his decision to stay, now still has that opportunity.