The 2002-2003 year was a milestone season for Lady Demon Head Coach James Smith as he became just the 56th coach in NCAA history to record 300 career wins. That win came in the first game last season - a 65-59 win over Texas A&M on Nov. 25, 2002. The Lady Demons went on to finish 17-11 overall, giving Smith 213 wins in his 16-year career, averaging just under 20 wins a season.
Many of the greatest moments in Lady Demon basketball history have happened with Smith in charge. The Lady Demons received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, their first in school history , in 1988-89 after posting a 22-8 record. They posted upsets of No. 6 Stephen F. Austin, 78-76 and No. 18 Ole Miss, 82-69. Arguably the greatest player in Lady Demon history, Pam Hudson, set Southland Conference records for points in a season, scoring average for a season and career, rebounds in a season, field goals made in a season and free throws made. Hudson's #45 jersey, along with Linda Grayson's #33, Teressa Thomas' #25 and Lonnie Banks' #10 are retired and hang in the N Club Room near the Prather Coliseum entrance.
Smith has also led the Lady Demons to three WNIT bids in 1992-93, 1994-95, and 1998-99's talented 22-7 squad.
In 1994-95, one of the most prolific players in Lady Demon history, Joskeen Garner, paced the way. Garner was the most highly recruited high school player in Southland Conference history.
In 1998-99, Smith's fast-paced style led the team, not only to the WNIT once again, but also to the Southland Conference title, the second in five years. Northwestern finished four games ahead of the nearest competitor in the final SLC standings. As a team, NSU had a 38.6 percent aim from behind the three-point line, seventh best in the nation.
As a team, the Lady Demons were also among the top three teams in the league in 12 of 14 categories, including tops in three-point field goal percentage (38.6), turnover margin (+3.0), scoring margin (+8.5), and three-point field goals made per game (5.6).
Judy Clark was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 1998-99, the third such award received during Smith's tenure. The team also reeled off 13 straight wins from December 20 - February 6, the most in school history until last year.
Smith has been named Southland Conference coach of the year twice, in 1988-89 and 1994-95, and was named Louisiana Coach of the Year in 1991-92.
Before taking over as head coach, smith was Pat Pierson's top assistant coach for seven years.
The Lady Demons, powered by Smith's patented "run-and-gun" offense, posted a 135-56 (.707) mark during that period, including a 1986 NWIT appearance and three consecutive Gulf Star Conference titles. That marked the first time a Lady Demon team had received an invitation to a national tournament since 1973 when a then non-university funded squad played in the NWIT.
Smith's offensive forte consistently landed Northwestern among the nation's scoring elite. From 1984-85 through 1986-87, the Lady Demons were never lower than sixth in scoring offense and wound up with a fourth most potent offense in the 1984-85 season, averaging 88 points per game. His 1985-86 offense, that ranked eighth in the nation (83 ppg), shined as it produced a single game school record 134 points against Hawaii Pacific. The Lady Demons were among the leaders again in 1992-93 as their 83.3 ppg ranked seventh in the country.
After seven years of unprecedented success at Northwestern, the winning team was broken up when Pierson, the winningest coach in Lady Demon history, resigned to take the vacant women's basketball coaching job at East Carolina. Smith was immediately promoted to replace her.
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Smith was a very successful girl's high school basketball coach at Downsville High School. At Downsville, he had been one of the most successful coaches in Louisiana where he compiled a 115-21 record in his three years there, an incredible 85 percent winning percentage. His Class B powerhouse also captured three district titles and earned a stat title game appearance during his tenure.
A native of Spearsville, Louisiana, Smith excelled on the hardwoods and diamonds during an outstanding prep athletic career in baseball and basketball. He then moved on to Centenary College where he was a two-year letterman on the basketball court and a four-year baseball letterman, where the right-hander was the Gents answer to Melido Perez. He received his degree from Northeast Louisiana in 1975 following a stint in the Marine Corps.
While he may be the boss around the Northwestern Lady Demons hardwoods, he'll be the first to tell you that the real boss is his wife, Susan. Thy have one daughter Angela, who is a graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and Northwestern State. Smith and Susan are also proud grandparents of Sara.
