On March 23rd, 2007, in the wake of a 9-20 season, University of Minnesota Athletic Director Joel Maturi announced the hiring of one Tubby Smith as the new men's basketball coach. More than a few Minnesota sports fans wondered if Maturi had made some sort verbal faux pas, or if there was some other Tubby Smith.
Tubby Smith: Change Has Been Invigorating
But there was no mistake. The Tubby Smith, already considered a coaching legend for reviving 3 NCAA basketball programs and bringing his teams to the NCAA tourney annually, would now be turning his attentions to an ailing Gophers program. "I knew it was time to make a change in my life," Smith said of the somewhat unexpected move to Minnesota," It's been great. It has been fun. It has been invigorating."
Invigorating is just the right term for what Coach Smith did in his first season at Minnesota. While it was unlikely that a repeat of his 1997-98 first season at Kentucky --taking the Wildcats straight through to the NCAA title-- would occur, excited and slightly awestruck Minnesota fans watched as Smith led the Gophers to their biggest one season turnaround in 102 years.
The Nickname Tubby Couldn't Shake
Orlando "Tubby" Smith was born on June 30, 1951 in Scotland, Maryland. He was the 6th of 16 children born to sharecroppers Guffrie & Parthenia Smith, and his large family was responsible for the nickname that he's never shook. Having to share a galvanized steel wash "tub" with his siblings, young Orlando was the one who preferred to stay in it as long as possible. Hence, "Tubby." Smith claims the last person to call him Orlando was a tenth grade school teacher who didn't allow nicknames.
At High Point College (now University) in North Carolina Tubby played on the basketball team while earning his B.S. in Health and Physical Education. Smith was selected all-conference in his Senior year. It was also at High Point that Smith met his future wife Donna. After time in the U.S. Air Force and coaching at high schools in North Carolina and Maryland, he made the leap to college coaching. Smith was an Assistant Coach at Virginia Commonwealth, South Carolina and Kentucky under coach Rick Pitino.
Tubby's Reputation For Turning Programs Around
Tubby Smith's first head coaching job came in 1991 at the University of Tulsa where he led the Golden Hurricanes to 4 consecutive winning seasons and 2 NCAA tourney berths. A similar turnaround took place at the University of Georgia. With Coach Smith at the helm for two seasons, the Bulldogs record was 45-19.
By the time Tubby took over the basketball program at Kentucky, where the Wildcats fans are rabid, Smith was beginning to gain a reputation for winning. Replacing beloved coach (and former boss) Rick Pitino, Tubby led the team to the NCAA title in his first season in Lexington. The "victory of victories" was a mixed blessing. Despite reaching the pinnacle, and subsequently coaching the Wildcats to 9 more "March Madness" appearances in a row, many Kentucky fans remained dissatisfied.
Branded "TubbyBall", Smith's slower, defense-oriented style of play was criticized by some fans. And while Tubby coached the Wildcats to a superb 263-83 record over 10 seasons, they did not again win the "big one." The day after his 10th season at Kentucky ended, he accepted the job at Minnesota.
With a career .719 winning percentage, and reputation already pushing the "legendary" status at age 56, Minnesota fans could not have been more optimistic. After a turnaround like none other, and a top 20 recruiting class, expectations for the upcoming 2008-2009 season have been set all the higher.
Tubby & Donna Smith Serve The Community
Besides the winning reputation, Minnesotans have also quickly become acquainted the the Smith's reputation for being a "class act". While in Kentucky, Donna and Tubby Smith were deeply involved in community service, a tradition they've carried with them wherever they've gone.
The Tubby Smith Foundation raised over $1.5 million to assist underprivileged kids. His "Tubby's Clubhouses" are a series of revitalized community centers in the Lexington area providing computers and training to those who cannot afford it.
Source: Gophersports.com
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