Men's Basketball

Redlands Athletics Announces Event to Celebrate Head Men's Basketball Coach Gary Smith
February 7, 2007

The University of Redlands will honor Head Men's Basketball Coach Gary Smith at an event entitled, "Celebrate Coach", on Saturday, February 17, 2007. After 36 years of serving the University of Redlands, Smith will step down from his responsibilities with the Bulldogs at the completion of the 2006-07 school year.

In conjunction with the final home Saturday basketball games, "Celebrate Coach" will include a luncheon to recognize and honor Smith's career at the University of Redlands. The luncheon will take place in the Orton Center from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Following the event, attendants are invited to cheer on the Bulldogs as they face Occidental College in a basketball doubleheader. The women tip off at 5 p.m. with the men playing at 7:30 p.m. in Currier Gym. At approximately 7:15 p.m., there will be a brief pre-game ceremony to honor Coach Smith in front of the Redlands fans.

Tickets to the luncheon are $25, which includes a ticket to the men's basketball game. Space is limited so please register early.

For those wishing to share a special memory, send a personal note or thank you card to Coach Smith, please mail it in care of Bulldog Athletics, P.O. Box 3080, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands, CA 92373-0999. All greetings will be presented to Coach Smith at the luncheon.

For additional information or to make a reservation for "Celebrate Coach", please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 909-748-8011.

A Brief Biography on Coach Smith:
Gary Smith '64 began his University of Redlands basketball career as a student, earning First Team All-SCIAC honors for three years, along with being twice named to the NAIA All-District First Team and receiving an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. In 1963, he won the National Free Throw Championship by posting an amazing 90.1% from the line. In 1971, he joined the University of Redlands coaching staff. Since taking over Bulldog men's basketball, he has posted over 400 wins during the past 35 seasons. In 1985, Smith was honored by his peers as the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year. In the late 1980s, Smith moved to an up-tempo offense known as the Triangle and coached the Bulldogs to three National Scoring Championships in 1989, 1991, and 1992. Beginning in 2002-03, Smith adopted a run-and-gun style of offense that enables the team to trade threes for twos, and in 2004-05 the Bulldogs established a new NCAA record for all divisions with 132.4 points per game. Smith also captured Lee Fulmer Memorial Tournament Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2006, earning back-to-back titles for the first time since 1959 and 1960. The Bulldogs and the "system" have gained recognition in publications like the Los Angeles Times and ESPN: The Magazine.

For a complete biography and coaching records on Coach Smith, please log onto the Bulldog Athletics web site.