Known as a transformative local sports figure in the Victoria community, Mike Smith has worked to transform countless lives, molding young athletes into confident adults, all while setting records that would make Texas sports legends sit up and take notice.

Whenever Mike Smith steps on a golf course or basketball court, the University of Houston-Victoria alumnus carries more than just equipment; he also brings along more than five decades of coaching wisdom.

Known as a transformative local sports figure in the Victoria community, Smith has worked to transform countless lives, molding young athletes into confident adults, all while setting records that would make Texas sports legends sit up and take notice.

“The greatest thing about sports is how it can change a young person’s entire life,” Smith said. “They knew the sacrifices they had to make to be successful in sports, and they carried it over to their adult lives. That’s the most satisfying part.”

A product of UHV’s early educational programs, Smith graduated from UHV with a master’s degree in education in 1977. He went on to earn a mid-management certificate in 1979 and a superintendent certificate in 1982. Smith was among the first cohorts of students who helped shape the institution’s legacy. Prior to UHV, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Sam Houston State University.

In 1972, Smith and his wife moved to Victoria where he accepted the role as the head boys’ basketball coach at what was once known as Victoria High School. During that time, a group of administrators and coaches Smith was associated with began talks of advancing their education with a master’s degree, Smith said. Smith began his graduate studies at Prairie View A&M University, a venture that lasted for two summers until UHV came to Victoria, and he decided to finish his master’s program at UHV, he said.

“It was really good. The professors were very caring, and it was just a very good experience. We learned so much,” Smith said.

But long before he set out as a coach, Smith was just a basketball-loving kid from Abilene who lived and breathed the game. Eventually he would parlay a scholarship and his determination to shine as a player at Cisco Junior College and then Sam Houston State University. After graduating from Sam Houston State and reflecting on his own experience playing basketball, Smith said he knew he wanted to become a coach. He spent several years traveling across the state to coach in Galveston and Dallas before coming to Victoria.

Cody McDonald

"Coach Smith's influence in Victoria reaches far past his excellence as a basketball and golf coach. He has spent decades investing in students, teachers and coaches in this community," said Cody McDonald, Victoria West head boys' basketball coach. "One of the first phone calls I received when accepting the head coaching position at West was from Coach Smith, and he has continued to be a supporter and mentor throughout my time here. We are blessed to have a man of his knowledge and passion still investing in this community and its leaders."

Smith’s time as the head boys’ basketball coach at Victoria High School was nothing short of excellence. During his 26 years as head coach, Smith took the team to the state playoffs 21 times and earned 17 district titles, 10 regional tournaments and two state tournament appearances. His basketball team set a remarkable home court winning streak of 43, 42 and 37 games.

“When I got to Victoria High in 1972, they had won the district the last two years, and it was just like a tradition,” Smith said. “It’s something you’re supposed to do, and we just built on that.”

But besides the numbers and statistics, one of the most memorable and cherished memories that came from his career came from coaching his own son, Smith said. During the stretch of four years coaching his son, the team won more than 110 games, went to regionals each year, and his son held the title of Mr. Basketball of Texas his senior year. His son would later be inducted into the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame, a recognition that took place just last year, following in his father’s footsteps. Smith was inducted into the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

In the early 1970s, Smith was also part of a pioneering group of coaches who recognized basketball needed a stronger voice in Texas, a state traditionally dominated by football culture. At a time when basketball coaches had little institutional support or recognition, Smith said he and his colleagues saw an opportunity to create change through collective action. He organized the formation of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches in 1975 and served as its president from 1976-1977. He has also written several articles for the Texas Coach magazine. He also started and compiled the Texas 5A preview book for 10 years.

“Texas is a football state, of course. So, a group of us decided to go ahead and create this organization because we knew that there was strength in numbers,” Smith said. “We started out with about 200 members. Now the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches is the largest basketball organization in the nation with almost 6,000 members.”

After retiring from basketball in 1998, Smith transitioned to coaching girls’ golf, where he quickly found similar success. He started out coaching golf at Victoria High School and now coaches at Victoria East High School. Within his first six years, his team won the state championship in 2004 and continues to be competitive today, Smith said. In the 25 years since he started coaching golf, the team has gone to 19 regional tournaments, made 12 state tournament appearances, and finished third, second and second in consecutive years.

As he continues coaching, Smith credits his success to his supportive wife and a belief in the right thing.

“Successful coaches have a great wife who supports and puts up with them because it’s a tough life. Basketball coaches are never home, we don’t have any holidays, and we have to eat meals on the go,” Smith said. “Successful coaches either have a great wife or no life, and I am so thankful for my wife.”