Meet Ray Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Smith.

Hi Ray, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started as an assistant basketball coach at Cuyahoga Community College. The first year we won is the Mens Junior College National Basketball Championship. I then became a first generation college graduate at 33 years of age. After being an assistant coach for 4 years I became Cuyahoga Community Men’s Head Basketball Coach. What I began to realize was that student athlete weren’t able to transfer their skills learned from basketball to life after basketball. So after coaching High School Girls basketball, I created Validity Sports and Enrichment to help athletes with left after sports.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth ride I was fired from my dream job of coaching basketball. During that time I was out of work and depressed. I couldn’t find a job that I equally loved as much as basketball. One thing I did have was my only son who was going into high school and I devoted all my time to helping him become a great student athlete.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the President of the organization that I founded called Validity Sports & Enrichment. I’m also an author of a memoir about my life called “Giving All My Energy G.A.M.E. . Community Collective Action is a group that I belong to that services community through wellness. I also love the culture of Hip Hop, which combines Art, dance, music to inspire others.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite moment was boarding a plane at 11 years old to spend Christmas and New Years with my dad in California.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @vseray1
• Facebook: Ray Smith