Smeenge attended Hudsonville High School along with other notable Hudsonvillian, Major League Baseball's John Vander Wal.
[citation needed] Herb Deromedi, head coach at Central Michigan, was quoted in saying, "in Joel you have one of the top defensive players we've ever seen in the Mid-American Conference.
Quick, tough and hard hitting, Smeenge was one of the nation's most impressive defensive ends in 1989.
Smeenge was an All-MAC outside linebacker as a sophomore in 1987, and was selected as an all-conference defensive end the next two seasons.
[citation needed] Joel invested in some car dealerships and real estate developments which ultimately led to filing of both personal and business bankruptcies in 2010.