By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Pardon Charles Smith for being skeptical when he was told in February he was a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the highest honor the game affords its elite.
It came in his first year of consideration. He’s a high school basketball coach, a subset that had only four representatives among the 450 people enshrined since 1959.
“I didn’t know if it was true or not. When I got the call I was a finalist, I had to pinch myself,” he said Saturday, after Smith, coach at Peabody Magnet High School for the past 40 years, was announced as one of 13 Class of 2024 inductees.
Again, pardon him for being skeptical.
“When I did get the call that I had been (chosen to be) inducted … it was April Fool’s Day,” he said.
It was no joke. Smith was told to please keep it quiet – which was no problem for the low-key 74-year-old Rapides Parish native. Arrangements were made for him and his wife to fly to Phoenix, where the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 class was introduced Saturday during halftime of the Purdue-North Carolina State game in the NCAA Final Four.
Smith will go in during induction festivities in Springfield, Mass., Aug. 16-17. The 2019 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee is joined in the “Hoop Hall” class of 2024 by another Louisiana luminary, Baton Rouge native and LSU women’s basketball great Seimone Augustus, who is going in the LSHOF in Natchitoches June 20-22.
Also among the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2024 Class: Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, retired Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, and as contributors, Doug Collins, Herb Simon and Jerry West.
Scanning the list of previous Basketball Hall inductees are superstars like Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Russell, Pete Maravich, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Bob Cousy, Karl Malone and Bob Pettit – not to mention the game’s greatest coaches from all levels, like Red Auerbach, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, Leon Barmore, Lenny Wilkins, Adolph Rupp and John Wooden.
The inductees are chosen after a multi-tiered process that culminates with finalists being considered by a 24-person Honors Committee, with at least 18 affirmative votes required for induction.
Smith’s credentials are unquestionably among the best ever among high school coaches. He has 1,208 career wins, fifth in high school history, and his teams have won nine state championships – the latest just last month in an overtime victory over Madison Prep at the Marsh Madness LHSAA Final Four in Lake Charles. He has won 85 percent of the games he’s coached, losing only 214.
He came to Peabody in 1974 as a math teacher – and remains in that role. He was an assistant coach, helping the Warhorses win the first state title in school history, before taking over the head coaching role in 1984.
Saturday, in Phoenix, his thoughts raced back home to Cenla.
“It’s a thrill to be here, to represent my school, Peabody High School. I’ve been there for 50 years, teaching and coaching. I’ve had some wonderful guys to play basketball for me. This is an honor not only for me, but for all high school basketball coaches,” he said.
“I’m from a little small town, Taylor Hill. I want to give credit to my parents. My father was a World War II veteran. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with General Patton. My mother was a teacher,” said Smith. “I have an outstanding family. My wife and I have been married for 50 years, this year. My son is my associate head coach, and my daughter is a vice president at Southern University-New Orleans.”
He noted that a coach’s success depends on a lot of other people – administration, faculty, supporters, assistant coaches, but most of all, teen-aged boys.
“It’s been a great ride,” said Smith, “and I want to thank my players for allowing me to be in this position.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com