EMCC’s Buddy Stephens completes football coaching staff with the additions of Story and Smitherman

SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens has put the finishing touches on his 2026 coaching staff with the addition of assistant coaches and former Mississippi State University teammates Michael Story and Maurice Smitherman.

Having assisted EMCC's football staff the past two seasons, Story was elevated to full-time status this summer and will continue to work with the Lions' offensive linemen. Smitherman, who will work with EMCC's defensive backs, begins his first year on the Scooba campus after having coached in the Alabama prep ranks the past two seasons. Story and Smitherman both redshirted MSU's 2015 football season and were associated with five postseason bowl teams during their Starkville stint (2015-19) together.

During his previous two seasons at EMCC, Story helped mentor a pair of All-Region 23 offensive linemen in Braxton Goff (Tarleton State) and Kison Shepard (Mississippi State). Also under Story's tutelage, former Lions Mike Wallace Jr. (Kennesaw State), Roscoe Tucker (ULM), Wes Thompson (Texas Rio Grande Valley) and SharDez Taylor (Alcorn State) have all moved on to the university level.

Prior to arriving on the Scooba campus in advance of the 2024 football season, Story earned valuable coaching experience at his prep alma mater by helping develop Ripley High School's offensive linemen while also assisting with the middle school football team. During his return to Ripley, he helped guide the Tigers to three consecutive Class 4A state playoff appearances. Story was previously a three-star prospect and three-year starter on Ripley's offensive line.

While at Mississippi State under offensive line coaching mentors John Hevesy and Marcus Johnson, Story earned the honor of having played alongside two-time NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (Browns/Packers) and Charles Cross of the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

"It's truly an honor to be a part of this great EMCC coaching staff under the leadership of Hall of Famer Buddy Stephens," Story said. "He genuinely cares about the players while combining a little mixture of old school and new school styles of coaching. It's great working with him and learning from him as we all strive to maintain EMCC's championship tradition."

Smitherman most recently served at perennial prep powerhouse Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., where the 2025 Warriors claimed the program's sixth AHSAA Class 7A state football championship in the last seven years. As the safeties coach, he helped develop Auburn signee Damonte Tabb, who was selected as a first-team all-American by The Sporting News.

A 2014 participant in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic and a first-team, all-state selection as a senior at Minor High School in Adamsville, Ala., Smitherman initially earned valuable coaching experience by guiding the Tigers' middle school team to the 2024 Jefferson County Board of Education (JEFCOED) Metro North Championship. He worked with university signees Mykale Hrabowski (UAB) and Corrion Tyson (Samford) at the defensive back position.

A major contributor within Mississippi State's defensive secondary, Smitherman was an integral part of a Bulldogs cornerback unit that did not allow a touchdown during the 2018 regular season. He was provided an opportunity to play at the professional level by his former position coach at MSU when he was drafted by College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Terrell Buckley, who served as the head coach of the XFL's Orlando Guardians during the 2023 season and is currently the head football coach at Mississippi Valley State University.

"Joining the EMCC family is an incredible opportunity and a true blessing. I'm honored to have the chance to work alongside Coach Buddy Stephens and excited to contribute to the Lions' continued success," Smitherman said. "EMCC's championship tradition, commitment to excellence and family atmosphere make Scooba a very special place."