Happy trails, Jay
Jay Smith sent shockwaves throughout the CMU community last week when he unexpectedly resigned.
But Smith will forever be remembered by players, coaches and administration for what he did for CMU athletics.
He turned the basketball program around and put CMU on the map when he led his team to a NCAA Tournament win over Creighton in 2003.
“Jay poured his heart and soul into the basketball program,” said former athletics director Herb Deromedi, who hired Smith in 1997. “He possessed an energy level that few could match.”
Smith took over a 7-19 team that had not had a winning record since 1988 when Charles Coles coached the Chippewas.
It took time but Smith’s first recruiting class led CMU from six wins and last place to first place and 20 wins their senior year in 2001.
Smith won Mid-American Conference coach of the year even though his team lost in the finals of the MAC tournament to the Miami RedHawks.
“His teams always hustled and we knew we a had game on our hands whenever they came to town or we had to go to Mount Pleasant,” said now MU coach Charles Coles. “We were fortunate that we played pretty good against CMU and we got lucky some of those times. I can’t tell you how we ended up winning some of those games.”
Chris Kaman’s freshman year was during the 2001 season, and two years later Kaman would become MAC Player of the Year.
After beating Creighton 79-73 in the NCAA Tournament, CMU went on to lose to Duke in the next round.
Kaman would go to become the sixth overall selection by the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Draft.
Now Kaman is leading the Clippers in the second round of the playoffs.
Smith hasn’t had a winning season since Kaman left early and won only one conference game this past season.
“From the day he started he had the disadvantage of coaching in a facility that was outdated when compared to those he competed against,” Deromedi said.
Some around the university thought that Smith should have been fired after this season but new athletic director Dave Heeke decided to honor Smith’s final year on his contract.
Then, suddenly, Smith decided to resign last week.
“It took me completely by surprise,” Heeke said. “We were committed to him but if his heart wasn’t in it anymore than I respect that he wanted to step away. He had a real passion for CMU and we’ll miss that.”
Smith’s reason for leaving was to spend more time with family, although he hasn’t been able to be reached for comment since his resignation.
But he still will be missed by many from the CMU basketball family, Heeke said.
