Posted by: Ryan Maurer
Pam Smith
Photo by Robbie Gantt
Springfield, Ohio — As she has so many times in her illustrious Wittenberg career, women's basketball Head Coach Pam Smith shook a few hands and received some pats on the back following Thursday's 55-39 victory over Kenyon College.
But an appreciative home crowd wouldn't let the Smith get away that easily. After a modest postgame reception that included a group hug at mid-court from her players, Smith was met at center court at halftime of the ensuing men's basketball game by Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell and Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland, where a proclamation was read in her honor.
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, will forever be Pam Smith Day in Springfield, Ohio. After all, it's not every day that a collegiate basketball coach reaches 400 career wins.
"I haven't played any of those 400 games," said Smith, whose team improved to 14-9 overall and 11-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. "It has been the great players who have gone through the program and special players and coaches and teams that I have been a part of. Those are the memories that are so special to me."
Smith respects and understands history - in particular Wittenberg athletics history and her place in it - but she remains focused on the here and now. While she reached a personal landmark on Thursday - in a game postponed one day by a snowstorm - Smith was most pleased that the Tigers clinched a share of second place in the regular season standings and the opportunity to host an NCAC Tournament quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
"Today's win wasn't about 400 wins for me," said Smith, who now has a career record of 400-168 in 20 seasons leading the Tigers. "This was about solidifying second seed in the NCAC Tournament for this team. We talked about that before the game."
Smith became just the 21st active women's basketball coach at the NCAA Division III level to win 400 career games, an incredible feat considering the state of the program when she took over prior to the 1986-87 season. Since then, the seven-time NCAC Coach of the Year has guided the Tigers to twelve 20-win seasons, eight appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament and 11 NCAC regular season championships. The Tigers have posted 17 straight winning seasons, and they have never finished lower than third in an NCAC regular season since joining the league in 1989.
A 1999 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native was a record-setting forward at Wittenberg during her playing days, a three-time team Most Valuable Player and an Academic All-America selection. The university's associate athletics director and senior woman administrator, Smith (nee Evans) still holds the record for scoring average in a season at Wittenberg.
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