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Mutt DeGraffenreid named Smoky Mountain AD
Mutt DeGraffenreid has been named athletic director at Smoky Mountain High School.
He replaces Si Simmons who requested to be reassigned to a teaching position last month.
The 51-year-old DeGraffenreid was approved by a 3-0 vote at last Thursday’s meeting of the Jackson County Board of Education. Board members Ken Henke and Mark Brooks abstained but pledged to support DeGraffenreid.
Currently an assistant football coach and teacher at North Buncombe, DeGraffenreid said Friday he will start his new job “as soon as possible.”
“I think it’s a great opportunity and a great challenge,” DeGraffenreid said. “People talk about not having the resources, but the kids are the resources. When we get everybody on the same page, we should be able to be successful.”
He inherits an athletic program that has seen Tim Hawkins resign as football coach and Tonya Snider resign as volleyball coach this month.
The Mustangs are also scheduled to start wrestling and swimming practice Monday, but head coaches have not been named in those sports. Those positions could be filled before DeGraffenreid comes on board.
“We’ll look for the best available coaches,” DeGraffenreid said of the football and volleyball positions. “There’s no time frame. We want somebody who can teach the fundamentals of the game and have the kids enjoy the sport. The kids I’ve been around there aren’t enjoying it right now.”
DeGraffenreid is no stranger to local athletic programs. His connections with Jackson County date back to 1972 when he came to Western Carolina to play football as a defensive back after graduating from Reynolds High in Asheville.
Following four seasons as a player, DeGraffenreid served three years as a graduate assistant for the Catamounts under Coach Bob Waters.
He then began a 17-year stint as a full-time WCU assistant culminating with being assistant head coach under Steve Hodgin.
DeGraffenreid worked two years in student development at WCU before serving six seasons as head football coach at Cherokee High. During his tenure, he led the Braves as far as the state 1-A semifinals.
“I’m excited about the opportunity and look forward to it,” he said. “There are some great people in Jackson County.”
DeGraffenreid earned his bachelor’s degree in recreational leadership and master’s degree in educational administration from Western.
The DeGraffenreid name is also well known locally because of his daughter, Cetera. She is a record-setting junior point guard for the Lady Mustang basketball team.
He and his wife, Pam, are also the parents of a son, Al, an eighth-grader at Cullowhee Valley School.
Principal Alex Bell noted DeGraffenreid has experience with sports other than football. He coached the first women’s track team at Western and helped with the basketball program at Cherokee. He also wrestled in high school.
“I’m very excited, and I think he brings a lot to the table,” Bell said. “He’s been in athletics all his life and has played and coached at the college level. He has the personality and people skills that are necessary in that position.”
DeGraffenreid is expected to help with SM’s in-school suspension program as well as with a student leadership class coordinated through Southwestern Community College, according to Bell.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him,” the principal said. “I’ve known him a long time and have always admired his rapport with student-athletes.”
“We’re happy to have someone fill that position,” Superintendent Sue Nations said. “He comes to us with good recommendations. We’re looking forward to great things from him. I want to talk to him about the hopes, dreams and passions we have for our athletic program.”
Henke announced at the meeting he was abstaining “based on my relationship with the applicant.” Brooks said he was abstaining because of “a perceived conflict that could arise.”
“It’s just that my son played for him when he was at Western,” Henke said Monday. “I didn’t want to make any decision based on what happened there. It wasn’t anything major.”
He added, “When we hire someone, I support them. I’ll do my best to help him all that I can.”
Brooks said Monday that the “perceived conflict” came from his daughter being involved in the basketball program along with DeGraffenreid’s daughter.
“I didn’t want anyone to think there would be a situation where I would vote for somebody who could possibly help me or my daughter,” he said.
“I’ll do anything I can to support him,” Brooks said. “I wish him all the best in the world. I’d never purposefully do anything to hurt that program or anything else in the schools.”
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