Coach David Smith

Bellarmine women's basketball coach, David Smith, has had a very successful career with many accolades under his belt. He recently has gotten his most prestige honor yet, being part of a list of the best NCAA women's coaches. I have had the honor to play under him for a season. He is a very aggressive coach that deserves every honor that he receives.
There are many different requirements that must be completed to receive this noble honor. The list took all Division I, II, & III coaches into consideration. The requirements are as follows:
* Coached a national championship team
* Elected to the Hall of Fame
* Won 500 games
* Coached three teams to the Final Four
* Post a career winning percentage about .700 with at least 150 wins
Coach Smith received the honor because of his winning percentage of 70.9 (499-205). Being a part of the team, I hope to help him get in with more than one category. He is one win away from his 500th win. Hopefully we can accomplish the victory for him early in next years season.Even though as a team we are anxious for the mark, he does not feel the urgency. " My 500th win is just a number. If it was my last year then I could see why I would be a little disapointed,"Smith stated. "But I have many years to come and hope to reach my 600th and 700th wins."
He also came close to surpassing other prerequisites; he has taken four teams to the Sweet Sixteen. He even got close to a national championship in 1996 with his Shippenburg team that ended with a national runner-up finish.
Coach Smith is obviously a very successful coach with many more good things to come. He is in a league with Tennessee's Pat Summit and Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma , who join him on the list. The honors that he receives also help with the recognition that the players and the school get. So as a small community here at Bellarmine, everyone needs to continue to support the athletic programs and the good things that come out of it.