Satellite High School will host a special appearance by veteran ESPN on-air personality, TV host and reporter Marty Smith from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, in the school’s 700-seat auditorium.
The free event is made possible by ESPN project manager Patrick Abrahams, a long-time family friend of Coach Paul Creatura, a resource officer at Satellite High and the school’s head boys basketball coach.
Sgt. Creatura, who also is heavily involved with the Police Athletic League (PAL), is retiring on Dec. 31 after 28 years with the Satellite Beach Police Department, but will continue work as a resource officer and coach.
“I’m going to continue running PAL and continue doing other things,” Creatura said.
“I have other things coming, so we’ll see what happens.’’
Creatura, who hails from Connecticut, played high school basketball and still recalls playing in the Boston Garden. He said he’s all about having fun, which is what he tries to pass on to his Satellite High team. He’s proud of the staff he’s assembled to help mold his young men, which includes a New Jersey legend.
“It’s been a perfect storm,” Creatura said of his great coaching staff that includes Jim Baglin, a long-time basketball coach from New Jersey whose 685 public high school wins ranks third in that state’s history.
Smith, meanwhile, just completed a book entitled “Never Settle: Sports, Family and the American Soul,’’and is expected to discuss it during his appearance. He is also using the event as a book-signing event. For $20, guests can get their books signed and have their picture taken with Smith.
“Marty and Nick Saban (University of Alabama head football coach) are best friends,’’ Creatura said. “He talks about what he learned from him.’’
Scorpions athletic director TJ Gaudy is inviting area basketball coaches and teams to attend the Nov. 4 event.
Anyone interested in more information can call Paul Creatura at 321-266-2903 for details.