Jim Souhan: Influence of St. John's Smith felt beyond hundreds of games

COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. — In 1964, when St. John's University asked Jim Smith to become its basketball coach, Smith stayed up all night with his wife listing pros and cons. "We came up with about three advantages," he said. "We came up with about 15-20 disadvantages. So, of course, we took the job."

Smith figured he'd work in Collegeville "for about three years." That was 45 seasons ago. Saturday, he coached the Johnnies to the 697th victory of his tenure, 57-49 over Concordia-Moorhead, at Sexton Arena -- home to Jim and Adrienne Smith Court.

With three victories in St. John's remaining four regular-season games, Smith, 74, will reach a milestone unimaginable for most coaches, giving him the continuing privilege of being the second-most celebrated coach in his own athletic department.

While record-setting football coach John Gagliardi has become a revered and endearing national figure, Smith, befitting his personality and coaching style, has inspired more internal loyalty than external attention.

He already is the winningest basketball coach in Minnesota collegiate history, and is three victories shy of becoming the second basketball coach in Division III history to reach 700.

"I didn't really want a court named after me," Smith said in his office before the game. "They told me I didn't have a choice. The good thing is, my wife's name is on there, too. She's been such a big part of everything we've done here; that's fitting."

Smith, who walks with the help of a cane because of hip and knee problems, has won MIAC titles in five decades; survived colon cancer and two stints as school athletic director; coached his own grandson and six members of one extended family; coached golf, cross-country and track; raised seven children and become a great-grandfather; and now receives medical advice from doctors who played for him decades ago.

In November, when St. John's named the court after Smith and his wife, Trewick was with the football team in Whitewater, Wis. Generations of former players came back to Collegeville to visit Smith and his family. "My wife called me during the ceremony and said, 'I get it now -- I get why you wanted to come back,' " Trewick said. "It's only because of him. The kind of person he is, that's why he's lasted so long."

Saturday, St. John's trailed by three at the half before wearing down Concordia. Smith, wearing a thick, white, SJU sweater, let his assistants do most of the yelling, as he sat, calmly observing.

Smith, whose team is 12-9 and 10-6 in the MIAC this year, is not sure when he'll retire. He admits winning 700 would be "big," but he's humble enough that, when asked about the possibility of another milestone, he said, "Well, 800 seems like it would be a long way away. As a matter of fact, 700 could be a long way away, too, when I look at the schedule. If it doesn't happen this year, it will happen next year. Or the year after."

Trewick says Smith has always been more concerned with people than results, and remembered his senior season, when St. John's trailed a mediocre Macalester team late in the game, and Trewick came to the sideline.

"Jim started talking to me about whether coaching was something I really wanted to do with my life," Trewick said. "I kept thinking, 'Don't you think we should worry about this game first?' "