Hall of Fame
Dave Smith is one of the top women’s basketball coaches in NCAA Division II history. He helped to establish that claim during a highly successful eight-year tenure at Shippensburg in which he posted an overall mark of 160-69.
Smith began his run at Shippensburg in the 1990-91 season. During the next eight seasons, four of his teams would make it to the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament. When he left Shippensburg, he was the most successful coach in school history and currently ranks second in wins at Shippensburg behind current head coach Kristy Trn.
During his tenure, the Lady Raiders won three PSAC Championships. In 1996, he led the Lady Raiders to the National Championship game, falling to Division II powerhouse North Dakota State. In his final season at Shippensburg, 1998, Smith once again guided the Lady Raiders to the Elite Eight of the Division II Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The team finished with a 28-4 record.
Smith earned three PSAC Coach of the Year Awards, including one in his final season (1997-98) and was also awarded the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association East Region Coach-of-the-Year in 1996 and 1998.
Upon his departure, then-university President Tony Ceddia commented that "Dave faced the difficult task of rebuilding a team that had six consecutive losing seasons, but took that challenge and more than beat it when just six years later the team went to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time and played for the national championship. His success on the court is matched only by his dedication to the success of his team academically.”
Smith is ready to embark on his 27th season as a college head coach as he begins his 11th season at Bellarmine University. During his career Smith has also served as head coach of St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana (1976-1978, 1984-1990) and an assistant coach for the St. Joseph’s men’s team (1978-1984). He was the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year in his final two seasons at St. Joseph’s.
A 1969 graduate of Indiana State, Smith’s 519-217 career coaching record equates to a winning percentage of .705. His career coaching wins rank him seventh among the active coaches in Division II women’s basketball.