Report: Jay Smith Joining Michigan Basketball Staff in Administrative Role
Welcome back, Jay Smith.
Smith was a legendary scorer for Mio High School in the 1970s, coached at Michigan as an assistant to Steve Fisher in 1989-96, and then was the head coach at GVSU and CMU. Most recently, he's been the head coach at Kalamazoo College. A Kzoo TV station is reporting that he's leaving K-College to take an administrative role on Juwan's staff.
Good luck to him. I was never impressed with Smith at CMU. He found Chris Kaman, so credit where it's due I suppose, but both before and after Kaman the Chips were awful. Doesn't mean he can't be valuable in a supporting role. Welcome back, coach.
Didn't follow is coaching career.... but I do recall him playing for Mio HS, he was a hell of a player.
First time I've ever heard of Mio, MI
Mio is about 110 miles straight north of Clio.
Isn't Jay Smith from around there?
And Clio is about 110 miles north of Ohio.
the infamous "-io" corridor
Which is about 4991 miles north of Rio
You mean CL10 right?
It’s also the home of Michigan basketball legend Graham Brown.
Hambone?
Home of the Thunderbolts...... I suppose next you'll say you've never heard of Hillman (Tigers) or the famed Posen Vikings? Two words: Potato Festival
Some people just don't get out enough....
Mio has a Potato Festival? I've been to the Munger Potato Festival but not the Mio one.
the demo derby at the munger potato fest is probably the best in the state. a little rowdy, usually late in the season so there's some jostling for championship points, and best of all you just toss your empty beer cans down from the bleachers for the boy scouts to pick up.
Posen, MI is the home of the Potato Fest.... but don't go unless you like to drink beer and dance the Polka.
Mio is awesome if you like spending a summer weekend floating down the river with a half dozen of your good friends and two coolers full of adult beverages. We go every summer.
Ah yes..... Floating the AuSable courtesy of Hinchman's acres. I haven't done that in 20 years, but fond memories none the less.
Also played in softball tournaments under the lights in Mio. The games went on all night, behind Fox's Northwoods (since closed and the ball field is no more) good times, good times.
I heard Jay Smith talk one time at an alumni event back in the 1990s. He said that when he graduated from Mio that he held two career Michigan high school basketball records - most points scored and fewest assists! Seemed like a good guy. Welcome back.
Jay Smith and I combined to score 2,841 points in high school.
Also, Michael Jordan and I have a combined six NBA championships between us.
Smith was an assistant during the Fab Five era, along with Brian Dutcher and Perry Watson. Anybody remember what Jay's role was on that staff?
Jay Smith ran the Steve Fischer basketball camps back in the early 90s. Super high energy guy and it was always fun to talk to him, especially as a middle schooler. Every time I hear someone mention triple threat position in basketball I think of him.
I'm going to be a dick here, but a pet peeve of mine is when people spell Fisher as Fischer. As a guy with the last name Fisher it really bugs me.
Sorry, neg away.
Fair enough. As a guy with two first names, I get the frustration.
Two first names? The only Trout I know is Trout Mask Replica.
Thanks for Venus on the Half Shell
Longest night?
I worked at Crisler when I was in school. I remember Jay hanging out after practice working with Kirk Taylor when he was coming back from knee surgery. Also, he and Terry Mills would have 3-point shooting contests before practice began. I'd have to go replace all the lights after they shot them out. There were very few misses.
He is a terrific get for Juwan. During games, in order to get the attention of someone on the floor, he would slap his foot hard on the floor and could make a loud enough sound to definitely be heard. I look forward to many more floor slaps from Jay.
Floor stomping is acceptable....
floor slapping, not so much
Very fair correction. Thank you
Jaaron Simmons is back as a Graduate Manager!
Really happy for jaaron
I wish all the best for Jay Smith and his family. I got to know him well in his time in Kalamazoo. He’s a really good man and his family is great. He will be an excellent asset to Juwan and the Michigan program. Great hire Juwan (as you already know).