By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Standing at the top of the basketball world Sunday evening, Peabody coach Charles Smith met the moment and shined in it.

Smith, 74, was inducted Sunday in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in a nationally-televised (NBA TV) ceremony attended by many of the game’s greatest living figures. He became the first Louisiana high school coach honored by the Hoop Hall as iconic players like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson looked on, along with fellow Class of 2024 members including Vince Carter and Baton Rouge native and LSU women’s basketball superstar Seimone Augustus.

In 14 seconds shy of six minutes, Smith was humble, appreciative and powerful in his eloquent and refreshingly brief acceptance remarks as his presenter, Natchitoches native and Naismith Hall of Famer Joe Dumars looked on, seated a few feet away on the stage.

“To dream the impossible dream. Giving God his glory. I know his blessings have been abundant and far-reaching,” Smith began.

He quickly thanked Dumars, and explained who had championed his cause with the sport’s shrine. Smith, the nation’s fifth-winningest high school coach with 1,208 victories, was selected in his first year of consideration.

“This honor would not have happened if it were not for my former student and assistant coach DeWayne Wells. He possessed the foresight and the grit to see this process through,” said Smith, who then explained the foundation for his success.

“My journey started from humble beginnings, having parents who dreamed that nothing was impossible for their eldest son. Growing up in a small, rural community in Taylor Hill, Louisiana, the son of a church-house school teacher and a World War II veteran instilled great promise in me. They planted seeds of encouragement and molded my inquisitive mind to dream.”

Smith, speaking in the no-nonsense tone that might be expected from a career mathematics teacher, did bring a wry sense of humor in his remarks that was well received by the audience.

“In 1985 I signed my first contract to serve as head coach at Peabody Magnet High School. The principle added bonus was a lifetime contract offer for over $200 million dollars. Not until my wife and I received my first paycheck did I realize my net worth was intrinsic and not monetary,” he said, drawing a robust round of laughs.

Smith left no doubt he’s always seen the big picture, if not the big dollars, in his career.

“My charge was to advance underdeveloped males to aspire and pursue higher education opportunities by using basketball as their vehicle. I wasn’t afraid of the challenge, but immediately I knew my student-athletes had to become academically sound to compete in the world of hard knocks. I’ve been privileged to do that for the past 45 years as a math teacher and coach at my second home, Peabody Magnet High School.

“With the best students, top athletes and years of supportive administrators, I stand before you as a proud member of the elitist War Horse Nation, and now proudly and humbly assume my position into the Naismith family among basketball’s superiors,” he said, earning loud applause.

Smith poignantly thanked his family, recognizing his wife of 50 years, Rosa, his children and grandchildren, and his siblings.

“As a team, we overcame the struggles of the Jim Crow era,” he acknowledged, again earning applause.

He admitted that as his career achievements mounted and people wondered if he might be a candidate for higher-profile jobs or even advancement into college basketball, he wondered too but ultimately realized what really mattered to him. He proudly explained the fruits of his labor.

“My joy comes from giving back to young men who need a role model, a mentor, and yes, just a caring human being … with over 80-plus basketball scholarship recipients, producing an executive vice president of a Fortune 500 company, pilots, doctors, attorneys, engineers, business owners, educators, coaches and yes, two NBA players.”

He paused, and began to grin broadly, as he wrapped up by saying, to laughter and more applause:

“I now know I have fulfilled my $200 million contract. Good night, and God bless.”