LEXINGTON, KY—High Point University graduate class of 1972 and head men's basketball coach Tubby Smith will have his "jersey" retired in Rupp Arena this season the University of Kentucky announced Tuesday night (October, 19th). Coach Smith will become just the fourth coach to have his name displayed on a banner in the rafters of Rupp Arena joining Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, and Rick Pitino. Kentucky will honor the national championship coach on December 31st when Coach Smith's High Point University Panthers take on the University of Kentucky.
 

 

"It is with great pride, enjoyment and a sense of excitement that we add one more name to the list of people who will see their names in the rafters of Rupp Arena and that's Orlando 'Tubby' Smith,"  Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. "A national championship coach, National Coach of the Year, a gentleman who brought so much class, honor and excellence to UK, Tubby is special and so deserving.  We are thankful to have the chance to honor him and will do so when his team comes to play the Cats in December. A lot of folks are going to want to come back and be part of that time.  Tubby and (wife) Donna contributed so much to the fabric of the University of Kentucky and we want to thank them in a special way."

The Reaction

Coach Smith spent ten seasons as the head coach at Kentucky, his Wildcat teams never won less than 22 games in a season. He led his Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament every single year he was head coach, while at Kentucky Smith went to three Elite Eights and five sweet 16s. He led Kentucky to a National Championship in 1998 with the "Comeback Cats". In 1998 Kentucky won 35 games en route to a National Title.

Smith has been named National Coach of the Year three times with two of those times coming during his tenure in Kentucky in 2003 and 2005. In 2000, Smith was an assistant coach on Rudy Tomjanovich's staff that led the United States to Olympic gold. He has won 631 games as a head coach, his 600th win came as head coach of High Point as the Panthers defeated ECU 55-52 back in 2018.

"You're one of my heroes, big fella"
 

Congratulations Coach.

#TGT x #GoHPU