WSSU shakes up staff after slow start
After missing their wheels on offense in four games, Winston-Salem State (WSSU) makes a change to the offensive end of the ball.
Lawrence Kershaw has resigned as offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Kam Smith has been transferred to interim head coach Robert Massey. The news was first reported by the Winston-Salem Journal.
The WSSU offense has been downright offensive this season. He’s averaging just 10 points per game and has just three touchdowns in four games. That included an offensive shutout last week as the special teams provided the only points in a 73-7 loss to Chowan on Saturday.
The WSSU offense also struggled in 2019 under Kershaw, averaging just 17.8 points per game. Kershaw arrived at WSSU in 2018 as an offensive line coach.
Here are four things to know about Kam Smith.
His name is written all over the WSSU Record Book
The Garner, North Carolina native arrived at WSSU in 2010 as a transfer from the Navy. He led the team to back-to-back wins over North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central and remained the starter for the remainder of that career. He compiled 7,540 passing yards on 535 completed passes on 896 passing attempts. He is currently the school’s record holder in total offense, passing yards, attempted passes, completed passes and touchdowns.
He played professionally
Despite his prolific stats in the WSSU, Smith was unlucky in the NFL as his Division II status and size (6’0) played against him. But he played with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League (GFL) and the Nebraska Danger of the Indoor Football League.
He is a Division I coach
After his playing career ended, Smith became a coach. He joined Connell Maynor’s team at Hampton where he was quarterbacks coach for four years. He helped David Watford and Jaylian Williamson win second and third All-MEAC team honors respectively while at HU. After a staff change at Hampton, he landed in St. Augustine for two seasons.
He was a winner in the field
Smith led the Rams to a 32-4 record as a starter. He led the WSSU to consecutive CIAA titles in 2011 and 2012. In both seasons, the WSSU set new HBCU records with 13 and 14 wins, respectively. This included several playoff wins over the two years.
