NEW MEN’S HOOP COACH NAMED

Smith plans to forge
winning ways

ust after turning 20, David Smith
spent more than two months staring up
at the ceiling telling himself, yes, he
would move - and even play
basketball - again. A guard with the
CIAU’s St. Mary’s Huskies, Smith
suffered total paralysis after contracting
the mysterious Guillium Barre Syndrome
following surgery for a back injury.

Within one year, he regained full
movement. Within two years, he returned
to the Huskies. After graduation he was
playing pro basketball in Europe, helping
upstarts from a town of 45,000 named
Horsens wrest the Danish Elite
championship away from powerhouse
Copenhagen.

 

The ball’s in his court. SFU assistant-coach David Smith is shifting
campuses to take over head coaching duties of the Royals men’s
basketball team. Smith will also offer teen basketball camps at
Douglas College during the summer (see story).

Now Smith, 32, has moved from his
position as Simon Fraser Clansmen
assistant-coach, whose responsibilities
included scouting and player
development, to replace Sean Beasley as
head coach with the Douglas College
Royals. Smith brings with him some
major lessons about dedication, gleaned
from his recovery, and about high-level
basketball, picked up during four
professional seasons playing and coaching
in Denmark and Germany.

“T’ ve already had some rather unique
experiences and that is going to impact
the way I coach,” says Smith, who selects
recruits on the basis of work ethic as well
as talent.

“My goal at Douglas College is to
recruit people motivated to move on to
the next level. Those people will work
their butts off and they are much easier to
coach. The guys I’m recruiting didn’t get
that much publicity, but I think they’re a
bit hungrier.”

Smith expects the first Royals team he
coaches next fall will be small but fast,
accentuating the run-and-shoot style
popular in Europe.

“Tn Europe the three-point shot is a
great equalizer to make up for size. They
use the three-point shot a lot more, and a
lot more effectively. It’s not unusual to
see someone drive into the paint, then turn
and pass it out for the longer shot,” says
Smith. “They’ ll take a three-pointer over a
layup.”

Smith will also offer several boys
basketball instruction camps during the
summer. Sessions for ages eight-12 run
July 10-14, ages 13-18 run July 17-21,
with the camp for ages four-eight on
August 13-15. Call 527-5472 or 527-5513
for information. I

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