Howard Community College has announced the appointment of Mike Smelkinson as Associate Vice President of Athletics, ushering in an era of leadership for Dragon Athletics.
As part of the transition, Smelkinson will pass along his duties as head coach of the Dragons men’s basketball team, concluding the most successful coaching tenure in the history of the men’s basketball program. Smelkinson retires from coaching after compiling a remarkable 153-77 record during his two stints at Howard Community College and establishing the program as one of the nation’s premier NJCAA Division II programs. He finishes his collegiate coaching career with an overall record of 275-129 between Howard Community College and Harford Community College.
Smelkinson had been serving as the interim associate vice president, with this announcement confirming the position permanently. As Associate Vice President of Athletics, Smelkinson will continue to oversee the strategic direction of the athletics department, supporting coaches and staff while enhancing the overall student-athlete experience. His responsibilities will include long-term planning, program development, fundraising, facilities, compliance, and strengthening partnerships across the campus and community.
“Mike has been a transformational leader for Howard Community College Athletics,” said Howard Community College Vice President of Operations and Advancement Jarrett Carter. “His passion for our student-athletes, commitment to excellence, and vision for the future have elevated every aspect of our athletics program. We are excited to see him continue that impact as Associate Vice President of Athletics.”
Smelkinson first joined Howard Community College as head men’s basketball coach in 2011, quickly revitalizing the program by doubling the team’s win total in his first season before leading the Dragons to the 2013 NJCAA Region 20 Championship and the program’s first national tournament appearance.
After five highly successful seasons at Harford Community College, he returned to Howard in 2019 and immediately engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in school history. The Dragons posted a 25-6 record; earning more wins in that one season than Howard CC had in the previous four seasons combined. They captured the Region 20 Championship, defeated two nationally ranked top-10 opponents, earned the No. 8 seed in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, and finished with the most wins in program history before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over his tenure, Smelkinson guided Howard to four Region 20 championships, multiple Maryland JUCO titles, four NJCAA National Tournament appearances, and an Elite Eight finish in 2025. His teams consistently ranked among the nation’s best while developing student-athletes who continued their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions. Since returning in 2019, the men’s basketball team’s home record under Smelkinson was 63-5 with only two losses against NJCAA division II teams. They won 36 consecutive home games from 2019-2022. The 2022-2023 season saw the Dragons play their entire season on the road as the new arena was being constructed, with Howard CC winning the regular season and tournament championships in that year. Smelkinson has sent over 60 players from his teams to four-year colleges during his coaching career, with over 40 going to the NCAA Division I and II levels on scholarships.
In addition to his coaching success, Smelkinson has played an instrumental role in the growth of Howard Community College Athletics. Since becoming Director of Athletics in 2021, he has overseen significant expansion across the department, including the addition of softball, co-ed esports, competitive cheerleading, JV men’s basketball, and women’s flag football. He also helped lead the opening of the state-of-the-art Kahlert Foundation Complex while continuing to prioritize student-athlete success in competition, academics, and community engagement.
“Coaching at Howard Community College has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Smelkinson said. “I am incredibly grateful for every student-athlete, assistant coach, staff member, alumnus, and supporter who has been part of this journey. Together, we’ve built something truly special. I’m especially grateful to my wife, Amber, who has helped me climb the ranks. Without her I would not be in this position. I’m excited to shift my energy on serving all of our programs and continuing to move Howard Community College Athletics forward.”
Although his time on the sidelines has come to a close, Smelkinson’s impact on Dragon Athletics is far from over. As Associate Vice President of Athletics, he will continue building upon a championship culture that has positioned Howard Community College as one of the nation’s leading community college athletic programs.
“I am thankful to Dr. Willis, VP Carter, Chief Wall, and the entire senior leadership team who have all supported me at HCC,” said Smelkinson. “It feels good to work at a place with leaders who understand the value and impact of intercollegiate athletics, fitness, recreation, and student development. I am looking forward to continuing to build something special here at the greatest community college in the country.”
An announcement regarding the future of the men’s basketball coaching positions will be made in the coming days.
