James Smith is a modern day Thomas Moore.
That is, a man for all seasons. And, as he enters his second year as Northwestern State's head coach, he's got all the reasons to expect one of the most successful campaigns in Lady Demon hoop history.
Actually, the fact that NSU is gunning for its tenth straight winning season isn't all that surprising when considering that Smith has been an integral part of those initial nine winning records.
The coach without a sports coat (usually by the two minute mark of the first half) has been at the top of his profession and is recognized across the South as a top notch-recruiter. This year he and his crew look to take another step forward, past the Southland conference post-season tournament and into the NCAA playoffs.
Smith arrived on the NSU scene with credentials impressive enough to stagger even the most vivid imaginations. Consider that at Downsville high school, he won 85% of his games, compiling a record of 115 and 21 with three consecutive district championships and an appearance in the State B title game.
At NSU, he assisted former head coach Pat Pierson for eight years. The Lady Demons merely went 135-56 during that period. The offense was Smith's forte, and his run and gun attitude consistently landed NSU among the nation's scoring elite. From the years 1984-85 thru 1986-87, the Lady Demons were never lower than sixth in scoring offense and would up with the fourth most potent offense in 1984-85.
Last year the head coach at Northwestern State changed after Pierson moved on to East Carolina. But the results remained the same as the Lady Demons posted their ninth straight winning campaign, going 16-12 and finishing in the top half of the Southland Conference race.
Smith was an all-around athlete at Spearsville high school, starring in baseball and basketball before moving onto Centenary, where he was a two year member of the Gents basketball team and lettered all four years as a right handed flamethrower for the baseball squad. He graduated from Northeast Louisiana in 1975.
One the court, Smith takes a backseat to no one, but at home, wife Susan, the director of Northwestern's testing center, and daughter Angela keep their favorite coach in his place.
The Man for all Seasons wouldn't have it any other way.
