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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The list of Randy Smith’s
contributions to Tennessee Tech Athletics includes a successful
playing career, an award-winning career as Golden Eagle tennis
coach in which he influenced the lives of scores of young men and
women who played on his teams, and several years as an
administrator who influenced the direction of the department.
His association with the University began as a student-athlete in
the 1960s and stretched for four decades until his retirement in
2006.
Smith is one of four people who will be inducted at the annual
Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2, in the
Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction
dinner is part of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner,
or the Saturday afternoon game against Eastern Illinois, can be
purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by
calling (931) 372-3940.
His stellar coaching career includes four Ohio Valley Conference
Tennis Coach of the Year honors, two with the men’s team and
two with the women’s team. His list of responsibilities as an
administrator continued to grow during his 11 years. At his
retirement, he was Associate Athletics Director for Operations,
Facilities and Capital Projects.
In addition to his service to Tennessee Tech, Smith was also an
ambassador for the OVC, representing the league and institution as
a member of the NCAA Tennis Committee. In 2005, he was named to
lead the NCAA Tennis Championship Selection Committee.
Smith headed the TTU men’s and women’s tennis programs
for 13 seasons, before retiring as coach in 2001. In 2006, he
returned to the courts when he was appointed interim head
coach.
During his 14 combined seasons as Director of Tennis, Smith lifted
the Tech tennis programs into being annual contenders for Ohio
Valley Conference championship and national recognition. He was one
of the most recognized and well-respected tennis coaches in Ohio
Valley Conference history, earning regional and national positions
including a stint as member of the NCAA Tennis Committee.
A 1970 Tech graduate, Smith returned to his alma mater in 1988 and
immediately led the Golden Eagle men’s team to a 20-6 dual
match record, a 5-1 mark in the OVC, and second place in the
conference tournament. He was named OVC Coach of the Year in his
first season, an honor he repeated the following season when Tech
posted a 20-3 record in 1989-90. That team rolled to a perfect
conference record at 6-0 and captured the OVC tournament
championship.
That 1990 team not only captured the OVC tournament title, it also
earned the school’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tennis
Tournament.
In all, the Tech men’s team compiled a 191-141 record,
including a 74-25 record in conference matches. In his final
season, the team won another OVC regular season title with a 9-0
record and advanced to NCAA Tournament for the third time.