Tubby Smith steps down as coach at High Point after second bout with COVID
Tubby Smith is stepping away from coaching, if not permanently then at least for the rest of this season.
The former national championship-winning coach at the University of Kentucky announced Wednesday that he will turn over the reins of the High Point University men’s basketball program to his son G.G. Smith for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
High Point, Smith’s alma mater, is 11-15 overall this season and 5-7 in the Big South Conference. The Panthers have four regular-season games remaining before the league’s postseason tournament.
Smith, 70, said that after contracting COVID-19 for a second time in less than a year and having been away from his team for an extended period, that the timing was right for a change.
“I feel blessed to have had an amazing career leading, coaching and teaching great young men at first-class institutions,” Smith said in a school news release announcing his departure. “Working at my alma mater during this stage of my career has been a dream. I’m thrilled that G.G. will be taking over as head coach. He will do a super job. Moving forward Donna and I will continue the work we have done for over two decades to support and assist the university as proud alums of HPU. HPU will always have a very special place in our hearts as we met and fell in love here at High Point. Our commitment and passion for HPU will never wane and we intend to continue be an integral part of its growth and prosperity well into the future.”
Smith came to High Point as a student in 1969 and became captain of the basketball team and an all-conference performer.
Before returning to High Point as a head coach in 2018, Smith served in the same role at Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Memphis. He also spent two seasons as an assistant at UK under Rick Pitino (1989-90 and 1990-91) before later returning to Lexington as the head coach.
As coach of the Wildcats from 1997-2007, Smith led Kentucky to a 263-83 record, seven Southeastern Conference regular-season championships, five SEC Tournament titles, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and won the national championship in 1998.
Last December, Kentucky honored Smith by retiring a jersey in his honor and raising it to the rafters in Rupp Arena before his Panthers played the Wildcats on New Year’s Eve.
“What a tremendous honor,” Smith told the Rupp Arena crowd that afternoon. “Something my family and I will cherish forever.”
Current Kentucky head coach John Calipari posted a tribute on Twitter upon learning Wednesday’s news, noting the class with which Smith conducted himself throughout his career.
“(He) never sold his soul and always stayed true to who he was as a coach and as a person,” Calipari wrote. “That’s the greatest compliment that can be paid to anyone.
“I think everyone knows the relationship I have with Tubby and how I respect him like I respected Coach (Joe B.) Hall. I’m so happy we were able to honor him this year and put a banner up for him in Rupp.”
Smith is one of only three head coaches to take five different schools to the NCAA Tournament and has been recognized with the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. His career record stands at 642-370.
“Tubby Smith is a champion, and High Point University continues to appreciate his contributions to our campus and community,” High Point President Dr. Nido Qubein said. “As a coach, Tubby has impacted the game of basketball in measurable and meaningful ways. Tubby and his wife Donna have also created a legacy of leadership and service along their entire journey, and we are happy that will continue to grow right here at HPU. We are also excited for G.G. in his new role as the men’s head coach.”
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 4:23 PM.