Congrats to coach Smith on ...................

[swishmeyer]

............. his new position up north! We'll miss him, but you can't help but be happy for him and his family. Here's the story from the Bemidji State website.

Men's Basketball
Patrick Smith Hired as Bemidji State Head Men’s Basketball Coach
May 6, 2004

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb today announced Patrick Smith as the 18th head men’s basketball coach at Bemidji State. Smith comes from Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo. where he was head men’s basketball coach and athletic director for the past three seasons.

“I am thrilled with Patrick because he is an optimist and really wants to get things done,” said Goeb. “His positive approach really stood out. We got a coach who is a proven winner, who has great recruiting contacts and an excellent reputation. Everyone we talked to who knows him speaks highly of Patrick.”

“He has been looking for a place like Bemidji State. He likes the wonderful environment BSU offers and this is a great place for his family.”

• Patrick Smith - 20-year head coach in the junior college ranks
Before making the move to the NCAA level at Bemidji State, Smith held head coaching positions at the junior college level for 20 years. Beginning at now-defunct Sue Bennett Junior College (Ky.) in 1982, Smith made his way from St. Catharine Junior College (Ky.) in the early 1980s to two schools in Illinois from 1988-1994. After that, he passed through programs in Kansas, Texas and Missouri in addition to an assistant role at NCAA Division I, University of Miami. Throughout his career there has been one constant for the native of Somerset, Ky. - winning.

“I am fired up about this opportunity,” said Smith. “I am impressed with the campus, the character of the players and the University’s commitment to the athletic program as a whole. Coach Guiot had a great program here and I plan on continuing that success. I am tremendously excited and honored about coaching men’s basketball at Bemidji State.”

As head men’s basketball coach and athletic director at Moberly since 2001, Smith engineered his program to an NJCAA Region 16 Tournament Championship and a 28-5 mark in 2003-04. He mentored freshman Eddie Smith to recognition on the NJCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention team. His stay at Moberly saw his club take fifth place at the NJCAA National Tournament in 2001-02 and post a three-year mark of 69-32 (.683).

Smith spent five seasons at Jacksonville CC (Tex.) prior to Moberly where he enjoyed four winning seasons and a 78-65 (.545) overall log. His 1996-97 team made it to No. 14 in the NJCAA poll. He took a year off from his stint at Jacksonville to be an assistant coach at Miami in 1997-98. While at Miami, he helped the Hurricanes advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 38 years.

Turning around losing programs was a constant of Smith. His 58 wins in three years (1985-88) at St. Catharine Junior College (Ky.) followed a two-year span in which the program had just one combined win. At Lincoln Land CC (Ill.), Smith inherited a program stuck on losing. In his three years there (1988-91), he averaged 20 wins - the 27 previous seasons, Lincoln compiled just one winning campaign.

Wabash CC (Ill.) did not have a winning record the three years prior to his arrival in 1991 - it was 47-52 (.475). Smith came on board and tallied three 25-win seasons and finished seventh at the NJCAA National Tournament in 1992-93.

Overall, Smith has averaged 22 wins per season since 1991-92 and holds a 416-272 (.605) junior college career mark. Entering the 2003-04 season, Johnson ranked No. 40 on the NJCAA winningest active coaching list. He is a six-time Coach of the Year ranging from conference to region honors.

A “Meet and Greet” session on BSU’s campus for Smith will be scheduled in the near future.

PATRICK JOHNSON - COACHING RESUME
Year College Record Notable Accomplishments
•1982-83 Sue Bennett Junior College (Ky.)* 4-25
•1983-84 Sue Bennett Junior College (Ky.)* 9-16
•1984-85 Sue Bennett Junior College (Ky.)* 18-14
•1985-86 St. Catharine Junior College (Ky.) 16-14
•1986-87 St. Catharine Junior College (Ky.) 22-10 Kentucky Junior College Coach of the Year
•1987-88 St. Catharine Junior College (Ky.) 20-11
•1988-89 Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 18-14
•1989-90 Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 19-13
•1990-91 Lincoln Land Community College (Ill.) 22-9 School record wins
•1991-92 Wabash Valley College (Ill.) 27-12
•1992-93 Wabash Valley College (Ill.) 26-11 Illinois Junior College Coach of the Year; 7th-place at NJCAA Nationals
•1993-94 Wabash Valley College (Ill.) 29-3 Illinois Junior College Coach of the Year; No. 7 in NJCAA poll
•1994-95 Barton County Community College (Kan.) 21-10
•1995-96 Jacksonville College (Tex.) 19-11
•1996-97 Jacksonville College (Tex.) 15-5 No. 14 in NJCAA poll
•1997-98 University of Miami (Fla.)^ 18-11 Made 1st NCAA appearance in 38 years
•1998-99 Jacksonville College (Tex.) 5-25
•1999-2000 Jacksonville College (Tex.) 21-10
•2000-01 Jacksonville College (Tex.) 18-14
•2001-02 Moberly Area Community College (Mo.) 30-7 NJCAA Region 16 Coach of the Year; 5th-place at NJCAA Nationals
•2002-03 Moberly Area Community College (Mo.) 11-20
•2003-04 Moberly Area Community College (Mo.) 28-5 No. 13 in NJCAA poll; NJCAA Region Champions
Overall Record: 416-272 (.605)#

*now defunct
^Assistant coach
#Based on available records

 

[bluff_sideliner]

I believe he will do good...

First, my congratulations to Coach Smith on his soon-to-be move to Bemidji State. He is a proven winner, not only in Region XVI but at every place he has coached.
As a TRCC alum, I do have to say it'll be nice to not have to face arguably our biggest nemesis. There's not a team in Region XVI that Moberly had a better record against, with the exception of East Central, who dropped its program after Smith's first year at the helm.
Smith's record against Region XVI foes at Moberly:
East Central=2-0
TRCC=5-2
State Fair=5-2
MAC=5-3
West Plains=3-4
Total record=20-11
That said, congrats to Coach Smith on his success in Houndtown and my wishes for future success in Minnesota.

 

[oldroundballer]

Coach Smith question

Wow. I didn't realize that Coach Smith had jumped around so much. I wonder what the deal is. Does he get bored easily or just like change that much? 3 years is his longest stint at a time. I guess Moberly shouldn't be surprised his moving on. It doesn't appear his moves have really been up the ladder. Moberly was definitely near the top of Juco but I've never heard of Bemidji State. Can that be a better career stop than Moberly? It definitely doesn't have much of a basketball history.

Maybe he isn't interested in moving on up. One thing is for sure, he knows how to recruit and he knows how to win. Maybe he will put Bemidji State on the map. I wouldn't surprise me to see them deep in the D2 tournament next year. I say good luck to him. In his short time in the region I grew to enjoy watching him and his teams play. His passion for the game is obvious. He teams competed with that same passion. He will be missed.

 

[Indian30]

What about....

...Coach Gerdeman? Will he be staying with the greyhounds or moving on to another job as well? Good luck to Coach Smith and I'm sure his winning tradition will continue at BSU. Coach G, good luck in whatever you decide...I don't know if T-Wolves and I can drive to Minnesota to watch a game

 

[luvhoops]

Re: What about....

Coach G is staying and in his meeting with the team Coach Smith talked to the players about staying together and winning next year. He emphasized to the players that they were Greyhound basketball and thay were what the program is about. He is confident that the administrators and boosters will give the job to someone who will continue the tradition of winning at Moberly.

 

[Steptor]

Re: What about....

I pulled up the Bemidji Pioneer on-line and Pat Smith said he is on a mission to keep the Hound Frosh together because he thinks they have a chance at a National Championship. Also, he said he might bring 2 or 3 Hounds with him(but not Freshmen). Ellis, Hill? White is going to North Texas.

 

[T-wolves]

I would like to add my congratulations as well. I've had the opportunity to sit in on practice sessions and take in probably 15 Moberly games over the past 3 years and as a high school coach I've never been around someone with so much passion, knowledge and love for the game.

Best of luck to Coach Smith and his family at his new position. I've become a huge Moberly fan the past 3 years and will continue to cheer for the Greyhounds (especially if Coach G is still in town).

 

[Mtroy79]

I would have to say congrats to coach Smith as well, allthough i don't think this job is a premier job in MN still i feel it would be a move for him at which he can succeed.