About Coach Smitty

From as early as 4th grade, Darrell Smith grew up with a love for boxing. At the age of 16, he won the Kansas City open division Golden Gloves, and the North Carolina Golden Gloves in 1987.

He later served in the 82nd airborne division during the Gulf War, where the army discovered his boxing skills. He found himself boxing in the all-army championships in 1988, and came just shy of going to the Olympic trials after a medical complication.

After coming home with physical injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he poured his heart into a gym where at-risk teens could seek refuge, and have a healthy source of discipline to keep them on the right track.

Smitty’s Boxing Gym has become more than a place for boxers. It gathers volunteer tutors to help students in subjects like math and public speaking, as well as providing self defense courses and free training for people with disabilities.