Smith's success with Gophers doesn't mean he'll stay

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tubby Smith worked as an assistant basketball coach at Virginia Commonwealth, South Carolina and Kentucky.

He worked as a head coach at Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky and Minnesota.

He was born and raised in Maryland, and played college basketball in North Carolina.

He has family in Maryland and Virginia.

A realist would probably look at Smith's résumé and assume that he, like most power coaches, is always looking for his next job, a place offering a little more money, or better facilities, a more supportive atmosphere, or a better chance to win a championship. Or that, as a successful 57-year-old, he might take a hint from other well-off Minnesotans and look for a warmer place to spend his winters.

The typical myopic Gophers fan would probably look at Smith's résumé and assume he has found his dream job in Dinkytown, that a man who has spent most of his life in the South has, in two years, planted deep roots in the frozen tundra.

We may find out soon whether Smith has any roots at all. If Smith's intention was to take advantage of Minnesota's hospitality, relative to the crazed atmosphere at Kentucky, he could stay. Minnesota is, after all, an easy place to coach if you are competent.

If he's looking to leave, though, Smith could depart quickly.

You couldn't run into a sportswriter or a basketball official in Greensboro who didn't ask whether Smith is going to take the vacant Virginia job. The speculation has yet to rise above the level of rumor, but we should never let a power coach complain about these rumors, because power coaches so rarely tell the truth about their intentions. Power coaches, even those as classy as Smith, have taught us not to trust them.

Thus far, Smith has said only: "We have no reason to be looking at anything else. And I'm very happy where we are."

If Smith wanted to quash the rumor, he could offer a stronger statement, something along the lines of: "I have no interest in any other job and will remain in Minnesota at least for the length of my contract." Saying anything weaker than that invites speculation.

At his age, Smith's next move might be to a school where he will feel comfortable coaching until retirement. He would be a natural fit in his home state of Maryland, but Gary Williams snuffed rumors of his impending firing with a strong late-season performance. Smith would probably welcome warmer climes, which is why Arizona would make sense.

Smith could leave Minnesota bragging that he resurrected a program that was in shambles when he arrived, and he would be right.

Smith did not grow up dreaming of coaching in Williams Arena. He knew little about Minnesota-- the program or the state -- until, sick of the abuse he was taking in Kentucky, he called old friend Clem Haskins to ask whether he should be interested in the Gophers job.

Haskins probably told him something like, "It's an easy place to coach, most of the media is soft, the fans are happy if you can get them to the tournament, it's worth a look."

Minnesota is a nice way station for a power coach, but it is not a place Smith can expect to win another NCAA title, or a place he expects to retire.

Minnesota and Smith have been good for each other so far. That doesn't mean this relationship is built to last.