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Malone University Names Basketball Court After Hal Smith
Malone University has officially named its basketball court
in Osborne Hall after its former and long-time men’s basketball head coach Hal
Smith. The unveiling of “Hal Smith Court”, complete with his signature
roughly one foot by seven feet in size just on the court in front of the team
bench area, took place at the Hal and Barbara Smith Recognition Dinner on
Saturday, October 10th right in the Osborne Hall gymnasium itself.
The dinner during Malone’s Homecoming weekend honored Hal and his wife for
their 25+ years of service to Malone. A slideshow tribute and personal
tributes from a variety of speakers made up the majority of the program.
Among the speakers were Lake High School athletic director Bruce Brown, who
served as the MC for the evening and who was diagnosed with the same liver
disease (Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis) as Smith, and Dr. David Vogt, the
surgeon who performed Hal’s first (of two) liver transplants back in April of
2000.
As the evening concluded, Malone President Dr. Gary Streit and his wife Marla,
walked Hal and Barbara over to the spot where Hal paced back and forth for 25
seasons in front of the Pioneer bench. Tears flowed from Smith’s face
when the tarp was pulled back, revealing a permanent visual that marks his
legacy at the University.
"To say the least, I am truly humbled and
overwhelmed,” Smith commented that night. “It has been my
privilege and honor to have been able to serve Malone all these years as a
coach, an administrator, and a teacher. Each day was a challenge and was
filled with many rewards. It all comes down to people. I was
blessed with those that were sent alongside my path. My hope
and prayer has always been that I have been able to be some help to
them and be a positive impact on my players, co-coaches, friends, and
competitors as we came in contact with each other. My family and I will
be eternally grateful for the opportunity afforded me to be a part of the
Malone family."
The winningest basketball coach in Malone's history, Smith posted a record of
485-323 (.600) in 25 seasons at the university and his 485 Malone wins is more
than all other Pioneer men's basketball coaches victories combined. In 35
seasons as a collegiate head coach, he amassed a 659-472 (.583) record.
In 2005, he became just the 49th collegiate head men’s basketball
coach (at all levels at the time) to reach 600 wins. Smith led the
Pioneers to 22 winning seasons in his 25 years at the helm, as well as
directing the Pioneers to the NAIA national tournament twice. In
addition, he led Malone to the NCCAA Division I National Championship in 1996.