NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State will honor long-time baseball and assistant football coach Herbie Smith on Saturday during the Houston Baptist football game as the Exchange Bank Demon Great of the Game.

Smith led the Demons to more baseball wins than any other NSU coach with his 327 victories in 18 seasons from 1969-83.

The N-Club Hall of Famer guided NSU from the NAIA ranks through its independent days and to the Trans America Athletic Conference and the Gulf South Conference, where the Demons leapt to the Southland Conference just two years after his departure.

Smith led NSU to the 1974 NAIA District 30 championship and to the NAIA Regionals before the Demons captured the 1982 Trans America Athletic Conference title.

Known as a dynamic recruiter in both football and baseball, Smith coached or recruited two Demons who now have their jersey numbers retired – No. 7 Danny Bob Turner in baseball and No. 12 Bobby Hebert in football.

Smith played quarterback from 1960-63 and was part of a conference title in 1962. He also played baseball from 1963-64.