A.J. ‘Mooch’ Smith was named the Ilwaco athletic director in August. Smith, 34, worked at Naselle for nearly a decade as teacher then athletic director before returning to Ilwaco, where he was a former student and started his career.

ILWACO — For A.J. “Mooch” Smith, it was time to “come home.”

Smith, 34, was officially named athletic director for Ilwaco High School in early August, returning to the school he attended as a student and started his career.

He replaces Sean Cease, who served as athletic director starting in 2018.

Naselle to Ilwaco

Before accepting the position at Ilwaco, Smith taught history and physical education at Naselle for nine years and served as the school’s athletic director last season.

Navigating covid — from testing protocols to re-scheduling games — as a new athletic director last year was the biggest challenge, he said.

Pull Quote

‘My job is to help coaches build a program any way that I can. Winning is important, and so is building character in the classroom.’

A.J. “Mooch” Smith

Ilwaco athletic director

“I picked a good year to start,” Smith joked. “The challenges of covid are hopefully over and done with. The biggest challenge was the testing and the differences of opinion. It was just a tough time for schools, and America.”

Ice and snow during Christmas break to a soggy spring season were also hurdles that had to be overcome during a memorable year directing the Comet sports programs, which culminated with Naselle winning their first-ever state championship in baseball last May.

“I don’t think we saw the sun more than two times in the spring, even when Naselle played for a [baseball] state title it was in a downpour. Hopefully the sports gods are on our side this year and we get every game in, we don’t have to re-schedule and no more covid,” Smith said.

Fond memories of Naselle

Three memories resonated strongest regarding his time working at Naselle, Smith said, each stemming from experiences as an assistant coach for three sports.

“Our third place finish in boys basketball with Bill Olsen as the head coach, going almost-undefeated in middle school football, and our state championship in baseball. Those were my biggest highlights from my time at Naselle, I’ll never forget them,” Smith said.

During his nine years in Naselle, Smith developed a deep relationship with the parents and players, including a core group he coached from elementary through varsity.

“You couldn’t ask for a better group to work with, as a coach you pray for a group of kids like the (Lindstroms, Stranges, Bergesons, Harmons, etc.). That was the hardest thing taking this job, was telling them. I really did love that place,” Smith said.

“I didn’t leave Naselle on a bad note. I’m very appreciative of Naselle and what they did for me, including staff, coaches, parents and the people I met. I wish them the best and hope they win every state title. I will be their biggest fan even though I’m not there. I love that place. It was just time for me to come home with my family.”

Coming ‘back home’

Smith is happy to be closer to home, where he can spend more time with family, including his wife, Ariel, and see more of his kid’s (Peyton and Easton) baseball games.

“I wanted to come back home, my family lives here. Just coming home was the main attraction, that’s my sanctuary,” he said.

When not in the classroom or ball field, Smith runs a charter boat for Coho Salmon Charters in Ilwaco in the summer time, including a stretch of more than 50 consecutive charter fishing days this summer.

“My record is 76,” Smith said, adding that he wouldn’t be setting a new record this season. “That was sturgeon and salmon back when I was in high school.”

Smith, a graduate of the Ilwaco class of 2006, played football, basketball and baseball, including some of the Fishermen’s more accomplished classes in sports.

“We went to state for football and basketball. We were one game away for baseball,” he said.

Returning to Ilwaco feels like a homecoming for Smith.

“I worked here as a sub when I first got out of college and coached the fast pitch (softball) team for two years,” he said.

A couple of programs have been added since Smith was a student, including soccer and e-sports, in addition to football, basketball, softball, baseball, golf, wrestling, track and field.

“My job is to help coaches build a program any way that I can,” he said. “Winning is important, and so is building character in the classroom.”