Larry Smith (football)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Larry Smith | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Head coach | |
| Sport | American football | |
| Born | September 12, 1939 | |
| Place of birth | Van Wert, Ohio | |
| Died | January 28, 2008 (aged 68) | |
| Place of death | Tucson, Arizona | |
| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 143-126-7 | |
| Coaching stats | ||
| College Football DataWarehouse | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1959-61 | Bowling Green | |
| Position | End | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1976-1979 1980-1986 1987-1992 1994-2000 |
Tulane University University of Arizona Southern California University of Missouri |
|
Larry Smith (September 12, 1939 — January 28, 2008[1]) was an American college football coach who served as the head coach at Tulane University (1976-1979), the University of Arizona (1980-1986), the University of Southern California (1987-1992), and the University of Missouri (1994-2000). In Smith's 24 seasons as a major college coach, his teams were 143-126-7.
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[edit] Early life
Smith was a native of Van Wert, Ohio, where he was a three-sport star at Van Wert High School, graduating in 1957. He earned an appointment to West Point, but transferred to Bowling Green State University a year later to pursue coaching. He played two-way end at for the Falcons, playing on a small-college national championship team as a sophomore in 1959; he won all-league honors as a junior and was team captain as a senior.[2] Smith graduated from Bowling Green in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and later earned a Master of Education from Bowling Green in 1967.[3]
Known as a defense-oriented, no-nonsense coach, Smith began coaching as an assistant with Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio for two seasons (1962-63) and then head coach the next 3 years (1964-66). In 1967 he joined Bo Schembechler's staff at Miami University, serving as defensive end coach for two seasons. He moved with Schembechler to Michigan, serving as offensive line coach for four seasons (1969-72). When fellow assistant coach Jim Young was hired as head coach at Arizona, Smith moved with him and served as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator there for 3 years (1973-75).[2]
[edit] Coaching career
[edit] Tulane
After the departure of Bennie Ellender, Tulane hired Smith as the head coach in 1976. His first team went 2-9, then gradually improved over the following years to 3-8 and 4-7.[4] Smith's Green Wave teams experienced a break-out year in 1979: Tulane opened the season defeating #13 Stanford and later defeated #19 SMU. In the regular season finale, Tulane defeated rival LSU, 24–13, in the Louisiana Superdome; the crowd of 73,496 remains the highest attendance to see the Green Wave play at the Superdome. Tulane ended the regular season with a 9-2 record, ranked #15 and was invited to play in the 1979 Liberty Bowl. Its first bowl game in six years, Tulane lost to Penn State, 9–6, but Smith's ability to finish the season 9-3 attracted attention and he was hired away by Arizona.[5]
Smith's tenure with Tulane ended with a 17-27 record.[4] Under his guidance, ten Tulane players earned All-America honors, including two-time All-Americans quarterback Roch Hontas and kicker Eddie Murray as well as offensive tackle Eric Laakso and tight end Rodney Holman. Six of his Tulane players entered the NFL.[5]
[edit] Arizona
Smith arrived at Arizona in time for the 1980 season, the Wildcats' third season in the Pacific Ten Conference (along with rival Arizona State (ASU), they had joined the former Pacific 8 in 1978). Smith put great emphasis on in-state recruiting, built up the rivalry game with ASU, and focused the team on what he called "running and hitting". His first team went 5-6, including a 44–7 blowout loss to ASU; it would be his only losing season at Arizona.[6] The team improved to 6-5 during his second season, highlighted by a major 13–10 upset of #1 USC on the road.[7] Under his leadership, the Wildcats became competitive in the conference, began dominating the rivalry with the Sun Devils, and culminated with consecutive bowl appearances in the 1985 Sun Bowl, where a tie with Georga gave the Wildcats a 8-3-1 record, and the 1986 Aloha Bowl, where a victory over North Carolina allowed the Wildcats to finish with a 9-3 record in his final season.[6]
Smith's tenure with the Wildcats ended with a 48-28-3 record. Seven Arizona players earned All-America honors during his tenure, including two-time consensus All-American linebacker Ricky Hunley and All-Americans linebacker Lamonte Hunley (Ricky's younger brother), Morris Trophy-winning center Joe Tofflemire, safety Allan Durden, placekicker Max Zendejas, linebacker Byron Evans, and safety Chuck Cecil. Over twenty of Smith's Wildcats players went on to play professionally.[6]
[edit] Southern California
After success at Tulane and Arizona, Smith was hired as USC's first coach without previous Trojan ties since Howard Jones in 1925. His tenure at USC started strong as his first three Trojans teams went 27-8-1, won a then-school-record 19 consecutive Pac-10 games, earned three consecutive Pacific Ten Conference titles from 1987-1989 and went to three consecutive Rose Bowls.[8]
Smith's 1988 team was arguably his most successful: With Rodney Peete at quarterback, the Trojans started their season 10-0 and were able to defeat then #3-ranked Oklahoma Sooners football and #6-ranked UCLA Bruins football teams.[9] USC's Rose Bowl-clinching win over UCLA that year was its first-ever against the Bruins in Pasadena since they moved to the Rose Bowl in 1982.[2] Smith's USC team entered their final regular season game ranked #2 against the #1-ranked rival Notre Dame Fighting Irish football; the Fighting Irish defeated the Trojans, 28–10, en route to a national title. The Trojans went on to play in the Rose Bowl, losing to Michigan.[9] His 1989 team avenged the loss to Michigan in the 1990 Rose Bowl.
Smith's next two Trojans teams were not as successful, losing the Sun Bowl in the 1990 season followed by a difficult 3-8 1991 season.[9] The 1990 season was marked by a strained relationship with quarterback Todd Marinovich, who afterward left for the NFL.
The 1992 season proved to be Smith's undoing with USC: After a disappointing 6-4-1 regular season, the then #23-ranked Trojans accepted a berth in the 1992 Freedom Bowl, a lower tier bowl game in Anaheim, California, against an unranked Fresno State team in the first match between the two programs. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Trent Dilfer-led Bulldogs won in a 24–7 upset victory that angered many USC supporters.[9] Smith caused further furor after the game in declaring that "Names and logos don't mean anything. You don't beat someone just because of your name and logo." Within days of the Freedom Bowl loss and his commentary, Smith was fired by USC with three years left on his contract.[8]
Smith finished with a 44-25-3 record at USC, 17-17-2 in his final three seasons.[8] During his tenure he coached 13 All-American first teamers, including Heisman Trophy-runner-up Rodney Peete, Thorpe Award-winning safety Mark Carrier, linebacker Junior Seau, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, wide receiver Curtis Conway and defensive tackle Tim Ryan. Thirty-three of his USC players were selected in the NFL Draft, six in the first round.[2]
[edit] Missouri
After a year away from coaching, Smith was hired before the 1994 season as the 30th head coach of Missouri, replacing Bob Stull, who had been reassigned as assistant athletic director after five losing seasons.[10][11] His first two Tigers squads went 3-8-1 and 3-8, however they improved to 5-6 in 1996.[12] The 1997 Tigers finished with a 7-4 regular-season record, Mizzou's first winning season since 1983, and were invited to the 1997 Holiday Bowl, where they were defeated by Colorado State, 35–24.[10] The Tigers had another 7-4 regular season in 1998, and were able to cap it with a win in the 1998 Insight.com Bowl against West Virginia, 34–31, to end the season 8-4 and ranked #21 in the final AP Poll.[12][13] The 1997-98 seasons marked Mizzou's first back-to-back bowl games since 1980-81 under Warren Powers' tenure.[14] Smith was rewarded at the end of the 1998 regular season with a new five-year contract that raised his salary from $161,500 to $180,000 annually; he had become one of just four coaches in NCAA history to take four schools to bowl games.[15]
The Tigers followed their two bowl seasons with two losing seasons that featured a number of blow-out losses. The 1999 squad went 4-7, gave up a 21–0 shut-out loss to rival Kansas, and ended the season with three straight blow-out defeats of 37–0, 51–14 and 66–0.[12] Smith's 2000 Tigers did not fare better, losing to Clemson (62–9), Texas (47–12) and rival Kansas (38–17) on their way to a 3-8 season. Smith was fired on November 18, 2000 immediately after the final game of the season, a 28–24 loss to Kansas State. During his tenure at Missouri, the team compiled a 33-46-1 record.[16]
[edit] Later years
After his coaching career ended, Smith moved back to Tucson and worked as a commentator for Arizona football games on Fox Sports Net, and organized weekend instructional camps twice annually. He also voted in the Harris Poll, part of the Bowl Championship Series equation.[8] He was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 1999, which would ultimately claim his life.[17] He died in Tucson on January 28, 2008.[2]
Smith was married to Cheryl (née Nueenschwander); they had a son, Corby, a daughter, Alicia, and several grandchildren.[5] Corby Smith played at quarterback for both USC and Iowa, graduating from that latter in 1995 and immediately joining his father on the coaching staff of Missouri.[18]
[edit] Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane (Independent) (1976 – 1979) | |||||||||
| 1976 | Tulane | 2-9-0 | |||||||
| 1977 | Tulane | 3-8-0 | |||||||
| 1978 | Tulane | 4-7-0 | |||||||
| 1979 | Tulane | 9-3-0 | L 6-9 Liberty | ||||||
| Tulane: | 18-27-0 | ||||||||
| Arizona (Pac 10 Conference) (1980 – 1986) | |||||||||
| 1980 | Arizona | 5-6-0 | 3-4 | T-6th | |||||
| 1981 | Arizona | 6-5-0 | 4-4 | T-6th | |||||
| 1982 | Arizona | 6-4-1 | 4-3-1 | 5th | |||||
| 1983 | Arizona | 7-3-1 | 4-3-1 | 5th | |||||
| 1984 | Arizona | 7-4-0 | 5-2 | T-3rd | |||||
| 1985 | Arizona | 8-3-1 | 5-2 | T-2nd | T 13-13 Sun | ||||
| 1986 | Arizona | 9-3-0 | 5-3 | T-4th | W 30-21 Aloha | 10 | 11 | ||
| Arizona: | 48-28-3 | ||||||||
| USC (Pacific 10 Conference) (1987 – 1992) | |||||||||
| 1987 | USC | 8-4-0 | 7-1 | T-1st | L 17-20 Rose † | 17 | 18 | ||
| 1988 | USC | 10-2-0 | 8-0 | 1st | L 14-22 Rose † | 7 | 7 | ||
| 1989 | USC | 9-2-1 | 6-0-1 | 1st | W 17-10 Rose † | 7 | 8 | ||
| 1990 | USC | 8-4-1 | 5-2-1 | 2nd | L 16-17 Sun Bowl | 22 | 20 | ||
| 1991 | USC | 3-8-0 | 2-6 | 8th | |||||
| 1992 | USC | 6-5-1 | 5-3 | T-3rd | L 7-24 Freedom | ||||
| USC: | 44-25-3 | ||||||||
| Missouri (Big 12 Conference) (1994 – 2000) | |||||||||
| 1994 | Missouri | 3-8-1 | 2-5 | 6th | |||||
| 1995 | Missouri | 3-8-0 | 1-6 | T-7th | |||||
| 1996 | Missouri | 5-6-0 | 3-5 | 4th (North) | |||||
| 1997 | Missouri | 7-5-0 | 5-3 | 3rd (North) | L 24-35 Holiday | 23 | 23 | ||
| 1998 | Missouri | 8-4-0 | 5-3 | T-2nd (North) | W 34-31 Insight.com | 25 | 21 | ||
| 1999 | Missouri | 4-7-0 | 1-7 | T-5th (North) | |||||
| 2000 | Missouri | 3-8-0 | 2-6 | T-5th (North) | |||||
| Missouri: | 33-46-1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 143-126-7 | ||||||||
| National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title | |||||||||
| †Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season. | |||||||||
[edit] References
- ^ Finley, Ryan."Former UA coach Larry Smith dies", Arizona Daily Star, January 28, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Former USC Head Football Coach Larry Smith Dies, USCTrojans.com, January 28, 2008.
- ^ Bio: Larry Smith, Mizzou Athletics website, Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ a b Tulane Yearly Results: 1975-1979, College Football Data Warehouse, Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ a b c Former Football Coach Larry Smith Dies At Age 68, TulaneGreenWave.com, January 28, 2008.
- ^ a b c Larry Smith: 1939-2008, Arizonaathletics.com, January 28, 2008.
- ^ ARIZONA UPSETS U.S.C., 13-10, Associated Press (The New York Times paid archive, free abstract available), October 11, 1981.
- ^ a b c d Jerry Crowe, Larry Smith, 68; led USC to Rose Bowl three times, Los Angeles Times, January 29, 2008.
- ^ a b c d USC Football History, 2006 Football Media Guide.
- ^ a b SPORTS PEOPLE: FOOTBALL; Coach for Missouri, The New York Times, December 16, 1993.
- ^ Reaction To Death Of Former Coach Larry Smith, MUTigers.com, January 28, 2008.
- ^ a b c Missouri Yearly Results: 1995-1999, College Football Data Warehouse, Accessed February 10, 2008.
- ^ 1998 final AP poll, STASSEN.COM College Football Information, Accessed February 10, 2008.
- ^ Missouri Yearly Results: 1980-1984, College Football Data Warehouse, Accessed February 10, 2008.
- ^ FOOTBALL: COLLEGE ROUNDUP, The New York Times, December 19, 1998.
- ^ FOOTBALL; Missouri Coach Out After 3-8 Year, The New York Times, November 20, 2000.
- ^ Crowe, Jerry. "Seeing Bright Side of Life, and USC", Los Angeles Times, 2006-07-16.
- ^ Bio: Corby Smith, Mizzou Athletics website, Accessed January 30, 2008.
[edit] External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Mason |
University of Arizona Head Football Coach 1980-1986 |
Succeeded by Dick Tomey |
| Preceded by Ted Tollner |
University of Southern California Head Football Coach 1987–1992 |
Succeeded by John Robinson |
| Preceded by Bob Stull |
University of Missouri Head Football Coach 1994–2000 |
Succeeded by Gary Pinkel |
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Smith, Larry |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American college football coach |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 12, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Van Wert, Ohio |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 28, 2008 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Tucson, Arizona |
