Tubby Smith had his immediate family with him in Rupp Arena for his jersey retirement and says his family still considers Lexington home.(Jeff Houchin/Kentucky Today)
He walked on the Rupp Arena court about 40 minutes before the game just to look around. He signed autographs for fans, posed for pictures, waved to the crowd, and even shook a few hands. It was almost like Tubby Smith was back at home — and he was. The current High Point coach was an assistant coach at Kentucky for two years under Rick Pitino and then head coach for 10 years after Pitino left. He won the 1998 national championship and got Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament every year he was head coach.
Kentucky won Friday’s game 92-48 but there was no doubt Smith was the big winner. Kentucky retired his jersey — something that should have been done years ago — and UK fans could not cheer for Smith enough during what was an obvious emotional time for him and his family members.
“Respecting each other and respecting the tradition that Kentucky has for their basketball program. It’s the No. 1 basketball program in the history of college basketball, so that’s why it’s such a thrill, an honor to be a part of the legacy of Kentucky by having your banner raised in Rupp Arena,” Smith said after the game.
Smith left Kentucky after the 2006-07 season to become head coach at Minnesota after winning 263 games and five regular-season SEC titles. Six teams made the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Yet despite that success, the end of his tenure had some UK fans unhappy with his recruiting and him not adding another NCAA title. He had been at the Kentucky state tournament scouting the day before he took the job at Minnesota, so this was his first time back in Rupp Arena since March of 2007.
Smith said he still treasures the moments he had at Kentucky — and many of his former players not only were at Friday’s game but also came to a celebration dinner for him Thursday night.
“When you’re in the midst of it, when you’re here you’re working so hard. That’s what I tell folks. It’s a 24/7, 365 days of the year, and the season never really ends if you’re a coach and a player,” Smith said. “But this is a special place. This city, Lexington, the state, Rupp Arena.
“I spent 12 years (here). This is the longest I’ve served anywhere was Kentucky. And that’s not because —I’d liked to have stayed here. Would’ve loved to have stayed here longer.”
Those last two sentences said a lot. Smith has never said he was pressured to leave UK even though it was a safe assumption. Friday he made it clear he would have liked to have stayed at Kentucky but knew it was best for him and UK if he moved on like he did.
“This line, the work, it can be taxing. It can change you. But I was proud that we raised — you know (my son) Saul played for me here. Brian, my younger son, won a state championship here, Lexington Catholic, so we have some fond memories,” Smith said.
“I don’t have anything that I can look back on and say this left a bad taste in my mouth. Always been just a joy to come back to Lexington, to the state. Donna loves it here, as I said before. This is where my family probably calls home more than anywhere else.”
That’s vintage Tubby Smith. He’s just pure class. Kentucky’s coaching staff even all wore sports coats at the game for the first time this season knowing Smith certainly would have own his traditional suit.
Smith was beloved by players. He did a terrific amount of behind the scenes community service in Lexington along with his wife. Media members loved Tubby’s honesty and accessibility.
His hire was a historic move by Kentucky as he became the first African-American head basketball coach for the Cats. However, he did not want any special treatment. He just wanted to coach basketball and few have done a better job coaching in games than Smith.
“When it’s home, you will do everything you can and you’re going to help to make it as great a place as you can by servicing people and being a part of it,” Smith said.
“I appreciate it (the jersey hanging). We have family here, but the broader family of Kentucky fans, Kentucky administrators, on and on and on. It’s just good to be back and be honored this way.”
Credit Kentucky coach John Calipari for making this happen. Calipari has embraced former UK coach Joe Hall and also wanted Smith to have a special homecoming. The UK coach said he even got emotional sitting on the bench with his team watching the pregame ceremony for Smith — and I believed him because I know I did the same thing.
Calipari knew Smith he was an assistant at South Carolina before he joined Pitino’s staff at Kentucky. He called him “gracious” and that’s a fair word.
Calipari also shared a story about Gonzaga coach Mark Few that perfectly shows the true Tubby Smith.
“I was on the phone with Mark Few, and he said, ‘Let me tell you with Tubby, it’s so good you guys are doing this, but we were on a Nike trip and I was a nobody. He took me golfing. He would see me at dinner because I didn’t know anyone, and that’s who Tubby is. And he doesn’t do stuff to get anything back. He just does it,'” Calipari said.
“It’s kind of like when a guy has been doing something the same way for 30, 40 years. You could say well that’s not who he is, or you say, well, he’s been doing the same thing 30 years and that’s Tubby. He is who he is, a great basketball coach.”
He is but Tubby Smith is also an even better person and that’s why his jersey certainly belongs in the Rupp Arena rafters with other former UK legends.
4 Responses
I always liked Coach Smith, and hated to see him leave UK. He is a class act. Hanging his jersey in Rupp was the right thing to do.
I coached at UK football camps for many years. A handful of our coaches were eating breakfast at 6:30 in the morning at the Commons Area where the Kirwan Towers once stood. There was nobody but us in there eating when Coach Pitino came in and told us we had to move because we were sitting in the basketball area. We asked if players were coming in and Pitino said no but we were in their area. So we got up and moved a few tables over. Next year Coach Smith came in and we knew not to sit in the basketball area. Since we were the only ones in there, Coach Smith came over and asked if he could join us. We laughed and told Coach Smith that this wasn’t the basketball area but he was welcome to join us. We told him the story from last year. He just laughed and said he didn’t know the basketball players had their own area. We had breakfast with Coach Smith for the next two weeks. He had some great stories and we asked him a ton of questions. He was a true gentleman.
We had the same experience at the SEC tournament in Ricks last year. He go on the elevator with 8 of us. He never said a word to us, even after we spoke w him, only nodded his head.
The next year Tubby and Donna got on as we went down and he shook everyone’s hand told us thanks for coming. Donna was wearing red and black. When ask about that, she smiled and said I’m going to see GG play, (their son played at Georgia), but held a bag up and said but my blue and white is in here.
Tubby were the classiest coach Kentucky ever has had. I miss him
One of the nicest gentlemen to ever grace BBN! Congratulations Coach, most deserved honor, and those who know you always supported you and your efforts.