Brendan Smith is the Owner and Director of A Step Ahead Incorporated (ASA). As Director of ASA Smith overseas all basketball operations including: summer camps boys / girls AAU teams, school vacation clinics and weekly skills classes. In addition to his duties at ASA, Smith had served boys’ varsity basketball coach at Boston Latin School since the 2006-07 season (stepped down August 2021). During his tenure, Smith has lead the Wolfpack to four DCL Championships, and nine tournament births. Smith has previously coached men’s college basketball at Mt. Ida College, and high school basketball at Newton North High School. Most recently, Smith successfully completed the requirements to become a MIAA/MSSAA certified coach. In 2010 Smith passed both the written and floor exams of referee school to join the referee fraternity and became a member of Board 27. He earned his undergraduate degree in Human Performance & Fitness at Umass Boston and received his Master of Education degree from Cambridge College.
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It’s been a great journey, and I’m grateful for the relationship we’ve built.

What inspired you to join the US Sports Camps Network?
I was already running camps under my brand, A Step Ahead Inc., when I came across a postcard for directors in a physical education magazine. At the time, I was teaching PE and thought, "Why not give it a shot?" I applied for a directorship, and by the next summer, we launched our first camp. According to Brent Koonce, EVP, I was one of only two people nationwide to apply, which still surprises me. That opportunity marked the beginning of an incredibly rewarding partnership. This was over 15 years ago—our first US Sports Camp kicked off in 2008. We started with one camp that year, and now I oversee more than 100 camps across multiple sports. It’s been a great journey, and I’m grateful for the relationship we’ve built.

Did you always see youth sports as a practical career path, and was there a moment that solidified your decision to pursue it?
When I was younger, especially in college, I thought making a living in sports meant being a coach at a university or for a professional team. I never realized you could build a successful career—and do really well—by working in youth sports and running a business. That perspective changed for me in 2008when my position as a physical education teacher in Boston Public Schools was eliminated due to budget cuts. Growing up, I always thought teaching was a secure career if you worked hard, but as a young PE teacher without tenure, I learned that wasn’t always the case.
That experience pushed me to take control of my future, and I decided to focus full-time on my basketball business. It was a pivotal moment that opened my eyes to the opportunities in youth sports. Looking back, I’m glad I made the leap, and it’s something I try to share with younger people who see youth sports as just a part-time job. For most, it’s a much more realistic and rewarding path than trying to make it as a Division I or professional coach.
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For most …working in youth sports and running a business … is a much more realistic and rewarding path.

Do you feel your prior experience prepared you for your new role running youth sports camps?
Absolutely. My experience as a PE teacher made me a master of space management, which is critical for running camps. When I look at a gym, I think in terms of hoops and kids—six hoops might mean 60 kids, while a gym with 10hoops could handle a 100-kid camp. It’s all about organizing space efficiently. As a PE teacher, I often had 30 kids in a small space and had to figure out how to keep everyone moving without downtime, because sitting around usually led to distractions or trouble. That experience taught me how to manage large groups and keep things running smoothly, even in challenging environments. Every camp and facility are different, but those skills have been key to making it all work.

What do you love most about your job?

The best part is teaching campers and watching their growth throughout the camp. Guiding them through daily and weekly progressions and seeing tangible improvements—whether it’s a new skill, greater confidence, or both—is incredibly rewarding.

What do you think is the most important skill that a successful director should have?

A great director needs to lead both campers and adults equally well. If you can’t get your staff to follow your lead, things can get messy fast. A director who connects with both groups make the entire operation smoother and more enjoyable. Otherwise, they end up working much harder than necessary.

Helping those campers feel included, encouraging them to try their best, and seeing them leave the camp more confident is both a challenge and a huge reward.

What was something that came up as a camp director that you didn’t anticipate?

You’d think every camper who signs up for basketball camp is already passionate about the sport, but that’s not always the case. Some kids are trying basketball for the first time and might feel unsure about their abilities or whether they even like the game. Helping those campers feel included, encouraging them to try their best, and seeing them leave the camp more confident is both a challenge and a huge reward.

If you had one piece of advice to give to new directors, what would it be?

Plan two different schedules for the first day of camp. After the first 30-45 minutes, assess the group’s dynamics and your staff’s strengths, then choose the schedule that best fits the situation. Also, walkthrough the facility ahead of time and map out drills and activities based on the available space.

In what ways does the USSC team support you and your camps?
US Sports Camps makes it easy to expand beyond our local base in Newton. ASA Hoops works as more of a boutique brand in our area, but when we move outside that ten-mile radius, the Nike US Sports Camps really takes over. Their SEO presence is incredible—when you search for summer camps in any sport, they’re always at the top of the results. That visibility helps us bring in families and grow in new towns where we wouldn’t have been able to draw kids on our own.

On top of that, the USSC customer service and marketing teams are fantastic. The customer service team handles inquiries and registrations seamlessly, taking a big administrative load off our plate, while the marketing team ensures our camps are promoted effectively, so we can focus on what we do best—running great programs.

US Sports Camps makes it easy to expand beyond our local base in Newton…when you search for summer camps in any sport, they’re always at the top of the results.

Is there anything coming up that you are particularly excited about?  

I always get excited when we launch a new location. There’s an element of uncertainty with every new camp, and I never take success for granted. It’s a reminder that hard work behind the scenes is essential, and seeing a new location thrive is incredibly rewarding.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

As a kid, I idolized Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. As I grew older, I found inspiration in coaches like Rick Pitino, John Calipari, and Jack O’Brien. Beyond sports, I’ve always been fascinated by successful people—everyone from the Rockefellers and Carnegie to Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Their stories of determination and innovation resonate with me.

Have you found yourself becoming a mentor? If so, what ways has your support improved the development of your mentees?

Definitely. With A Step Ahead running year-round and over 500 players in our club program, I mentor a lot of coaches in basketball and time management. Whether it’s creating practice plans or exploring ways to turn youth sports into a rewarding career, I enjoy helping others find their path.

I love taking a team of players still developing their skills and turning them into a confident, cohesive unit.

What is a cause that you are passionate about?

I love taking a team of players still developing their skills and turning them into a confident, cohesive unit. Watching their growth—individually and as a team—is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work.

Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.

I genuinely enjoy working out 4-5times a week. While I’m not a fan of pushing myself to my absolute limits, I appreciate the consistency and the mental clarity that comes from sticking to a routine. Small, steady improvements are what keep me motivated.

If you could play with any team in the world, what position would you be?

No question—I’d be on the 1986 Celtics. That team was legendary, and being a part of it would be a dream come true.