A very exclusive company in High School Football just welcomed a new member, Hampton Crabbers Head Coach Mike Smith.

The King of Queen Street reached the 500 victory milestone on September 18, 2021 as Hampton rallied past Menchville, 25-14 at John B. Todd Stadium in Newport News to deny the Monarchs their first triumph in the head-to-head series since 1993.

Smith joined the late John McKissick - who won 621 games at Summerville High School in South Carolina prior to his passing in 2019 - and the still active J.T. Curtis (599 wins) of John Curtis Christian in Louisiana as the only High School Football coaches in America with more than 500 victories.

That's three people. Out of the thousands in the country to coach the sport.

500 is a large number no matter the context. 500 Pokemon cards is a lot, so is 500 pizzas. But when you can win 500 games in a sport like football, where you are only guaranteed ten wins a year max for the regular season, it takes a while to build to that number. Plenty of memorable playoff runs, too.

We're talking a Virginia High School League record 12 State Championships since his arrival at the helm in 1971 with 78 playoff victories versus just 31 postseason losses. Rare air that no one may ever last long enough, let alone be successful enough, in Virginia to reach again in our lifetime.

There have been numerous standouts over the years that have contributed to Hampton being the most storied program in Virginia High School League Football history. Names that have gone to the NFL like Ronald Curry, Tyrod Taylor, Dazz Newsome and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson leap to mind. Also, some very valuable assistant coaches, such as Alvis Mann and the late Danny Mitchell to point out a couple, have helped the Crabbers reach a level of greatness and sustain their place over time.

"You only do that if you have great assistant coaches," Smith remarked upon winning his 400th game in 2008 when the Crabbers

But above all, there has been one constant, the man in charge patrolling the sideline.

Mike Smith has been coaching at Hampton for 50 years. Spending countless days at a stadium rooting him on has been Lisa, his wife who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, September 18th.

"I'm so proud of him," Lisa said. "It's been a long time. I think for my part, I have to love the game and I don't miss games. I come to every game to support him and what he's chosen to do. I love the Crabbers as he does."

While Mike is the leader of the team, it could be said that Lisa is the heart and soul of the team.

"Our kids didn't miss games," Lisa remarked. "They didn't go to Hampton, except the youngest for his last two years, but they would come to the games. My daughter would come to every game, regardless of what was going on at her school. It (Crabbers football) has been an important part of our lives."

"It (500 wins) means I've been coaching for a long time," Mike Smith said with his famously dry humor intact. "If you sit there and think about it, it brings up a lot of memories. I'm just happy for these kids that they got a victory. That's the biggest thing."

For a little more than three quarters, that milestone seemed in doubt. Menchville made it difficult as QB Kevin White had a 13-yard touchdown run, while Renaldre Hodges and Sincyr Williams had interceptions that helped keep the Monarchs in front by a 7-6 count until the fourth quarter.

Midway through the game's final period, Hampton nudged in front 12-6 on a touchdown from a yard out by Marcus Triggs that was set up by a 31-yard completion from Khaioz Watford to Torian Howerton. Another Triggs touchdown run and 14-yard return off a fumble recovery Jaysun Simmons gave the Crabbers the necessary breathing room in the closing minutes.

While Smith might not want to acknowledge how big of an accomplishment this is, it cannot be understated that he is one of three coaches in the country to have this Brobdingnagian accomplishment on his record.

In the eyes of many, Mike Smith will be considered the best Head Football Coach in the history of the Commonwealth. And whether you like him or not, a diehard Crabber, fan of the rival Phantoms, Bruins or somebody else, the raw numbers are hard to dispute. Certainly worth a moment to applaud and marvel at as runs like these in any level sports don't comes around too often. Hardly ever.