Springfield, Ohio — Nearly eight months after Wittenberg University lost one of its most respected coaches, administrators and faculty members, the arena in the campus's Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center (HPERC) will officially be dedicated to the memory of Pam Evans Smith, class of 1982, in a ceremony at noon Saturday, Feb. 2.
Pam Smith receives a commemorative ball from Tosha Johnson, class of 2007, following her 400th win last February. The facility in which Smith won many of those games will be officially named Pam Evans Smith Arena on Feb. 2.
Smith, the coach with the most wins and highest winning percentage in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) women's basketball history, passed away in June 2007 following a long battle with cancer. During its October 2007 meeting, the Wittenberg University Board of Directors unanimously resolved to name the site of so many of the beloved coach's wins Pam Evans Smith Arena.
In making the decision, the board cited Smith's outstanding instruction, coaching and administration at her alma mater, noting that she "served with distinction as associate director of athletics, senior woman administrator and head women's basketball coach."
Smith also, the board resolution stated, "amassed more victories than any other coach - male or female - in the history of Tiger Athletics, and she was an inspiration to all who knew her. To memorialize her remarkable gift of self to her students, her athletes, her colleagues and to the community at-large, the HPERC Arena will henceforth be known as Pam Evans Smith Arena."
The dedication event will include comments from Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell, University President Mark H. Erickson, Assistant Director of Athletics/Head Softball Coach Becky Hall, Chair of the Department of Health, Fitness and Sport/Head Men's Soccer Coach Steve Dawson, Women's Basketball Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz and Smith's husband, Roger, in Pam Evans Smith Arena.
Roger and Smith's parents, Richard and Roslyn Evans, will then unveil a commemorative wall display that will hang next to the arena doors in Legends Lobby. A reception will follow immediately afterward. Finally, all in attendance are encouraged to attend the Wittenberg women's basketball game against the College of Wooster at 2 p.m. in Pam Evans Smith Arena.
Smith was named head coach at her alma mater in 1986 after a standout career in a Tiger uniform from 1979-82. While a player at Wittenberg, Smith was selected second-team Academic All-America as a senior and team Most Valuable Player three times. She was the Tigers' all-time leading scorer until her record was broken by one of her players, Margaret Grammas, during the 1988-89 season. However Smith still holds records for scoring average.
Smith took over a struggling program in 1986-87 and turned it into one of the most consistently successful programs in the country with twelve 20-win seasons between 1989 and 2007. The seven-time North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year compiled a 401-170 career record, led the Tigers to eight appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament and won 11 NCAC regular season championships. In 1999, Smith was inducted into Wittenberg's Athletics Hall of Honor in recognition of her standout playing career, leadership in the athletics department and consistency as a winning coach.
Smith earned a bachelor's degree in biology at Wittenberg and a master's degree in physical education with an emphasis on exercise physiology from Ithaca College in 1986. She added the roles of associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator in 1992, and she also served as an instructor in Wittenberg's department of health, fitness and sport.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Robert Gantt