Mike Smelkinson Awarded Bob Kirk Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year

For the first time in his highly successful career, head coach Mike Smelkinson earned the Bob Kirk Men's Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the Maryland Junior College Conference. Head coaches in the conference voted on the award, which is named after the late Hall of Fame coach, Bob Kirk, who was at Allegany College of Maryland for 40 years.

Smelkinson has a proven history of turning around basketball programs. Smelkinson took the Dragons, who went 4-22 a year ago, to a 25-6 record. His efforts paid off with a bid to the national tournament. The Dragons knocked off two top 10 nationally ranked teams during the regular season, earning the team the eighth seed in the 16-team NJCAA Division II National Tournament, which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Smelkinson’s ability to recruit players has always been a strength, and his ability to manage a deeply talented team led to success. The team’s 25 wins is the most ever in the history of the program.