ORANGE PARK - Despite three knee surgeries in her basketball careers in high school, college and in the pros, newly hired Orange Park High girls' basketball head coach Shaquita Snow will bring a ton of basketball success to the hallowed gym known as the Raiderdome.

"It felt very eerie walking in here the first time with my Orange Park coaching jacket and my Coach Snow hat," said Snow, now 32 and with three children who seem destined to have some good genetics as they approach junior high age. "I've been with some great players at every level of play and hope to bring that experience to these athletes."

Snow, as a three-year player for Orange Park after moving from Colonial High in Orlando, was a staple under then-coach Mandy Matricardi who finished 20-6.

"I was a defensive specialist, but had good ball skills as well. [I] only played my first two years because of a torn knee," said Snow, who may have had her best night with a 31-point effort in a region playoff win over Atlantic Coast in 2011. "We had Lakia Bright on that team, and she could jump to the roof."

Bright eventually played college volleyball at University of Central Florida and Auburn University, then professionally in the Philippines.

"One thing about Lakia is that she has two brothers that are coming up from Orange Park Junior High," Snow said. "If they got the same genetics, that could be interesting for coach K (boys coach Derek Kurnitsky)."

After Orange Park, Snow went first to Santa Fe College, then to South Georgia Tech College, where she was on a 30-5 team that made the National Junior College national tournament.

"That's where the career started popping," Snow said. "I was ranked second in the nation for assists on that team."

From there, Snow eventually landed at NCAA Division II powerhouse Florida Southern College, where she was a key player in an Elite 8 NCAA tournament team that finished 27-6. Florida Southern lost in the Sunshine State Conference finals to semifinal to Florida Tech, then won NCAA South Region Tournament games against Kentucky State (Snow had seven points and six rebounds), Tampa (23 points) and Benedict (16 points) before losing to top-ranked Lubbock Christian 73-69 in the Elite 8 round. Snow scored 11 points with four rebounds and two assists against Lubbock Christian.

"My junior year in college, I popped my knee again, but played at Florida Southern as a senior," Snow said. "That team jumped-started the Florida Southern program as a national power with an Elite 8 finish."

Florida Southern was 13-14 in 2014 season.

Snow's forays at the professional level included seasons locally with the Jacksonville Force Women's American Basketball Association team that recorded a 9-1 season record in their first season and won the WABA national title in 2021.

"I tore my knee before going to Australia but [I] played a year later," said Snow, who was 27 in Australia, but returned back to Florida with three children - Trinity, Tristen and Tru. "I wanted the kids to be near some family, and I didn't want to be traveling with them playing ball. They all three love basketball."

Snow has been assistant coach for Ridgeview and Trinity Christian Academy, plus with DME Academy in Daytona Beach.

Snow may also be reaching out to get two more Orange Park alums - Maxine "Fort" Knox and Shakarri Mack (Truck), to be on the bench with her.

"We've kept in touch and all have the love of the game, plus love of Orange Park High," Snow said. "We are going to push to teach basketball, but also preparing them for life from their actions on the court."

Panthers open Smith era with explosive score

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com

ORANGE PARK - It only took one defensive play in the very first offensive series faced in the Ridgeview High spring game against Crescent City on Friday to set a tone for the latest head football coach for the Panthers, Jason Smith.

"The biggest thing for me is to try and change the culture as fast as we can," said Smith, who has been a defensive coach at Ridgeview in years prior.  "We asked the kids to just play football and flow."

Smith was an accomplished track coach for Orange Park High and is a conditioning trainer for several high-profile professional, college and high school athletes at his Orange Park-based Rise and Grind fitness facility. "We asked the kids to just play football and flow."

Flow as it may have been called, but defensive end Drake Batts snagged a fumbled handoff from Crescent City and blasted straightaway to paydirt from 62 yards away to ignite a bench-clearing sprint down the Panthers sideline.

Of course, we got the flag for unsportsmanlike, but I'll take that one," Smith said. "The kids got a shot in the arm."

With the first spring game win in while for Ridgeview, the 6-0 halftime score with starters turned into a 24-0 win will be just one benchmark for his upcoming fall campaign.

"We saw explosive plays on both sides, and we also saw where we have to work," said Smith, noting his offensive coordinator, Corey Hawkins, was out for a hospital procedure. "I got three tough running backs - Ty'aun Edmondson, a returner, Amani Blount, a freshman and Edren Rhodes - all looking like they want to take it to the house on every snap. That's what I preach. Hawk getting back will add more to the offense."

Smith's resume includes his track prowess at Orange Park, where he was part of a 400-state title by Alex Collier, who is on the sideline as the running back coach.

"He brings a whole of speed knowledge to the table," Smith said. "If the kids buy into the process that I bring for conditioning and preparation, and Alex talks to them about just planting the foot and going, we will surprise people."

In the first half, Smith got consistent five-to-seven yards off tackles from his trio of ball carriers but was thwarted by quarterback Jordan Mesa being chased from the pocket too many times.

"That's a lot of new faces on the offensive line, led by Josh Longley at center and as the top returner, and without big man Michale Moglia, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury," Smith said. "We didn't do a lot of heavy weightlifting over the spring session. Those boys will be much bigger and stronger come August. I promise."

On his defensive line, Smith had Batts chasing down Crescent City ball carriers and quarterback with Andre Conyers. Jaylin Wright, Rylan Brooks and Jaiden Crane all got shots behind the line of scrimmage to keep the Crescent City offense off balance.

"We will be flying in and chasing people all night," Smith said. "We kind of didn't know what we had coming in and just to see if we would compete. We've only been together for 20 days."