SJU Basketball Coach Jim Smith
The winningest collegiate basketball coach on any level in Minnesota, Saint John's University basketball
coach Jim Smith ended his 44th season as a collegiate head coach with a 685-475 career record (.591) in 2007-08. Smith gained his 600th win on Feb. 6, 2002, with a win over St. Olaf. Smith is the 38th coach in NCAA men's basketball history to win 600 career games. On Feb. 13, 2002, Smith also reached the milestone of coaching his 1,000th career game.
Smith became the winningest coach in Minnesota collegiate basketball history on March 3, 2001, when SJU defeated Gustavus Adolphus in the second round of the NCAA Division III basketball championship tournament, passing legendary Hamline head coach Joe Hutton.
Smith has led his teams to seven MIAC titles, five MIAC playoff titles, nine trips to the NAIA tournament and eight trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs, including an appearance by the Johnnies in the 2000, 2001 and 2007 NCAA tournaments. Smith has won MIAC titles in each of the past five decades. Since 1964, SJU has enjoyed 30 winning seasons under Smith's direction.
A three-time NAIA District Coach-of-the-Year, Smith is a past president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In 1992-93 and 2000-01, Smith was named the NCAA Division III West Region Coach-of-the-Year. Smith also was named MIAC coach of the year in 2000-01, which is the sixth time in his career he has received that prestigious honor.
Besides ranking first among college coaches in Minnesota, Smith is also second among active NCAA Division III coaches for most victories, second all-time in Division III basketball history and 28th all-time in all divisions of collegiate basketball.
A 1956 graduate of Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in English and history, Smith was a four-year letterwinner on the Warriors' basketball team. He also earned his M.Ed. in counseling and guidance from Marquette in 1961.
In addition to his duties as basketball coach, he is also an associate professor of physical education and has coached golf, cross country and track during his tenure on campus.
Smith grew up in Elgin, Ill., and attended St. Edward's High School, where he was an all-conference performer in basketball, football and track. In 1993, Smith was inducted into the St. Edward's Sports Hall of Fame and the City of Elgin Sports Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Adrienne, have seven children, 12 grandchildren and reside in Sartell.
The Jim Smith Era - Career Records
Year / Overall / MIAC / Pct.
1964-65 / 9-15 / 6-10 / .375
1965-66 / 11-13 / 10-6 / .458
1966-67 / 17-7 / 11-5 / .708
1967-68 / 15-10 / 10-6 / .600
1968-69 / 20-9% / 12-4* / .690
1969-70 / 11-12 / 7-9 / .478
1970-71 / 12-12 / 10-6 / .500
1971-72 / 12-13 / 10-6 / .480
1972-73 / 11-16 / 8-8 / .407
1973-74 / 10-16 / 7-9 / .384
1974-75 / 8-19 / 6-12 / .296
1975-76 / 17-10% / 12-6 / .630
1976-77 / 14-12% / 10-6 / .538
1977-78 / 23-8% / 15-3* / .742
1978-79 / 27-3% / 18-0* / .900
1979-80 / 20-8% / 14-4 / .741
1980-81 / 18-9 / 11-7 / .667
1981-82 / 16-11% / 13-5 / .593
1982-83 / 18-12% / 12-6 / .600
1983-84 / 20-8% / 16-4 / .714
1984-85 / 16-12# / 13-7 / .571
1985-86 / 23-5# / 16-4* / .821
1986-87 / 19-8 / 16-4* / .704
1987-88 / 19-10# / 13-7 / .655
1988-89 / 16-10 / 13-7 / .615
1989-90 / 19-8 / 16-4 / .704
1990-91 / 10-15 / 10-10 / .400
1991-92 / 14-11 / 11-9 / .560
1992-93 / 20-8# / 17-3* / .741
1993-94 / 18-8 / 15-5 / .692
1994-95 / 17-9# / 15-5 / .654
1995-96 / 12-12 / 10-10 / .500
1996-97 / 14-10 / 12-8 / .583
1997-98 / 11-12 / 10-10 / .478
1998-99 / 12-11 / 10-10 / .522
1999-00 / 20-7# / 14-6 / .741
2000-01 / 22-6# / 17-3* / .786
2001-02 / 15-11 / 13-7 / .577
2002-03 / 12-15 / 10-10 / .444
2003-04 / 8-17 / 6-14 / .320
2004-05 / 8-17 / 6-14 / .320
2005-06 / 16-10 / 14-6 / .615
2006-07 / 21-8# / 17-3 / .724
2007-08 / 14-12 / 11-9 / .538
Totals / 685-475 / 517-283 / .591
# NCAA playoff team
% NAIA playoff team
* MIAC Regular Season Champion
Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes