Jay Smith (basketball)

Jay Steven Smith (born June 21, 1961) is an American college basketball coach. He currently serves in an administrative role for the men's basketball team at the University of Michigan. He was a former head coach at Grand Valley State University (1996–97) and Central Michigan University (1997–2006). He has also been an assistant coach at the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit.

Jay Smith
Current position
TitleDirector of Player Personnel & Development
TeamMichigan Wolverines
ConferenceBig Ten
Biographical details
Born (1961-06-21) June 21, 1961
Alma mater
Playing career
1979–1980Bowling Green
1980–1983Saginaw Valley State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984–1989Kent State (asst.)
1989–1996Michigan (asst.)
1996–1997Grand Valley State
1997–2006Central Michigan
2008–2016Detroit (asst.)
2016–2019Kalamazoo
Head coaching record
Overall
  • 133–200 (college)
Tournaments

Playing career

As of 2023, Smith still reigns as the all-time scorer in Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) basketball history,[1] after a head-spinning 2,841-point career at Mio-Au Sable High School in Mio, Michigan.[2] Of note, this was before the three-point shot. There is a road named after him in Mio, "Jay Smith Drive". In April 2019, Smith was named Michigan's "Retro Mr. Basketball 1979" by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM). Michigan's Mr. Basketball was not formally given out until 1981, so the BCAM went back and named a "Retro Mr. Basketball" for every year from 1920 through 1980.[3] Smith set the Michigan single-season scoring record with 952 points in the 1978–79 season. His record was surpassed in the 1984–1985 season by Mark Brown of Hastings High School, who scored 969 points.[4] (Brown's 2,789 points are second all-time in state history to Smith) Smith's 952 points are still the third most all-time in a single-season in state history.[5] Smith played one year of college basketball at Bowling Green State University, before transferring and playing the final three years of his career at Saginaw Valley State University.

Coaching career

Smith began his coaching career at Kent State University in 1984, earning a master's degree in Sport's Administration in 1986. In 1989, Smith left for the University of Michigan, the reigning Division 1 National champions, to join Steve Fisher's staff in Fisher's first full-season as head coach at Michigan. He returned to Ann Arbor in July 2019, accepting a role as director of player personnel and development, joining first-year head coach Juwan Howard's staff.[6] Smith helped recruit Howard and the rest of the Fab Five, a group of five freshmen that led Michigan to appearances in the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Championship games.

Smith returned to the assistant coaching ranks in 2008, joining Ray McCallum's staff at the University of Detroit Mercy,[7] where he spent eight seasons.

Grand Valley State University

Smith's took his first head coaching job in 1996, leading Grand Valley State University to 23–6 record, winning the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and a berth into the NCAA Men's Division II basketball tournament.[8] Smith left GVSU after one season, becoming the head coach at Central Michigan University.

Central Michigan University

Smith took over a CMU team that had not had a winning record since 1988[9] and had not made the NCAA Tournament since 1987. By his fourth season in Mount Pleasant, Smith led the Chippewas to the Mid-American Conference Western Division title, their first since 1987 and Smith won MAC coach of the year honors.[9] In March 2003, the Chippewas would win their first MAC Tournament Championship since 1987, defeating Kent State 77–67.[10] The win gave the Chippewas an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, their first since 1987.[10] The Chippewas defeated sixth-seeded Creighton in the first round, 79–73,[11] earning their first NCAA Tournament win since 1975. Center Chris Kaman was awarded conference player of the year as well as defensive player of the year for his efforts. Kaman was selected with the 6th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Following the 2003 season, Smith was never able to find success again at CMU, compiling 20–66 record over the next three seasons. Smith shocked the CMU community in May 2006, when he abruptly resigned as head coach, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.[12]

Kalamazoo College

In June 2016, Smith returned to the head coaching ranks, taking over the program at Kalamazoo College.[13]

Personal life

Smith is married with two children. His son, Cooper, played for him at Kalamazoo College during the 2018–19 season. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2018 and underwent successful surgery in September 2018 and managed to coach the full season.[14]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Grand Valley State (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1996–1997)
1996–97 Grand Valley State 23–6
Grand Valley State: 23–6–
Central Michigan (Mid-American Conference) (1997–2006)
1997–98 Central Michigan 5–213–156th (West)
1998–99 Central Michigan 10–167–113rd (West)
1999–2000 Central Michigan 6–232–166th (West)
2000–01 Central Michigan 20–814–41st (West)
2001–02 Central Michigan 9-195–135th (West)
2002–03 Central Michigan 25–714–41st (West)NCAA Second round
2003–04 Central Michigan 6–242–167th (West)
2004–05 Central Michigan 10–184–147th (West)
2005–06 Central Michigan 4–241–176th (West)
Central Michigan: 95–16052–110
Kalamazoo College (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (2016–present)
2016–17 Kalamazoo 7–173–117th
2017–18 Kalamazoo 8–173–118th
2018–19 Kalamazoo 7–184–10T-6th
Kalamazoo: 22–5210–32
Total:140–218

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. "MHSAA Record Book". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. Anderson, James (24 June 2021). "Mio scoring champion Jay Smith has done it all in basketball". The Alpena News. Ogden Newspapers. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. Patrick Nothaft (Apr 17, 2019). "Michigan high school scoring leader Jay Smith named Retro Mr. Basketballb". MLive. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. Scott Scholten (January 10, 2010). "Former Hastings basketball star Mark Brown prowling sidelines in Arizona". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  5. "Individual Records MHSAA Record Book". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  6. James Hawkins (July 15, 2019). "ay Smith returns to Michigan as Juwan Howard completes basketball staff". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  7. "McCallum Hires Briggs, Smith For UDM Basketball Staff". DetroitTitans.com. May 30, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. Steve Marowski (July 15, 2019). "Former GVSU and Kalamazoo College head coach Jay Smith heading back to Michigan". WZZM 13. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  9. "Happy trails, Jay". Central Michigan Life. May 17, 2006. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  10. Tom Withers (March 15, 2003). "Chippewas Heading To NCAA Tournament With 77-67 Win Over Kent State". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  11. Doug Alden (March 20, 2003). "Chippewas hang on to win after Creighton rally". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  12. "Men's basketball coach Jay Smith resigns". Central Michigan Life. May 11, 2006. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  13. Mitch Fick (June 24, 2016). "Jay Smith looks to resurrect Kalamazoo College MBB". FOX 17.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  14. Tony Paul (September 13, 2018). "Jay Smith, longtime college coach and former prep star, diagnosed with prostate cancer". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
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