Smokey Gaines Explained

Smokey Gaines
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:170
Birth Date:27 February 1940
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Death Place:Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
High School:Northeastern (Detroit, Michigan)
College:LeMoyne–Owen (1959–1963)
Draft Year:1963
Career Position:Shooting guard
Career Number:32
Years1:1967
Team1:Kentucky Colonels
Cyears1:1973–1977
Cteam1:Detroit (assistant)
Cyears2:1977–1979
Cteam2:Detroit
Cyears3:1979–1987
Cteam3:San Diego State
Highlights:As player:
  • No. 32 retired by LeMoyne–Owen Magicians

As coach:

Bbr:gaineda01

David "Smokey" Gaines (February 27, 1940 – September 5, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach.

Playing career

He played professionally for three games for the Kentucky Colonels during the 1967–68 American Basketball Association season after a four-year stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. Gaines attended LeMoyne-Owen College from 1959 to 1963 where he was the first player to have his number retired.[1] [2]

Coaching career

After his playing days Gaines became a men's college basketball coach, serving as head coach for the Detroit Mercy and San Diego State Aztecs. He replaced Dick Vitale at the former school, and coached Michael Cage and future Baseball Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn at the latter. He compiled a 112–117 record in eight seasons at San Diego State University (SDSU) and became the first black head coach in NCAA Division I in California. He was named the coach of the year of the Western Athletic Conference in 1984–85, when the Aztecs went 24–8 and qualified for the NCAA tournament.[3] Gaines was named athletic director for the Memphis City Schools in 2008, after coaching and serving as the athletic director at LeMoyne-Owen.[4]

Death

Gaines died on September 5, 2020, from cancer. He has also contracted COVID-19 in the time leading up to his death.[5] [6]

Career statistics

ABA

Source[7]

Regular season

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davis . Terry . At every level, David 'Smokey' Gaines made an impact . Tri-State Defender . October 6, 2020 . September 10, 2020.
  2. Web site: Legends . Harlem Globetrotters . October 6, 2020.
  3. News: Zeigler . Mark . September 5, 2020 . Smokey Gaines, first Black Division I basketball coach in California, dies . September 6, 2020 . Los Angeles Times.
  4. News: McClure. Jesse F.. New Memphis City Schools A.D. says 'It's all about the kids'. July 30, 2008. Tri-State Defender. https://web.archive.org/web/20120306072042/http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3050/1/New-Memphis-City-Schools-AD--says-Its-all-about-the-kids/Page1.html. March 6, 2012.
  5. Web site: Paul . Tony . 5 September 2020 . David 'Smokey' Gaines, Detroit Mercy's first Black coach, Harlem Globetrotter alum, dies at 80 . 24 May 2024 . The Detroit News.
  6. News: McCarty. Andrew. Former College Basketball Coach Has Passed Away. September 5, 2020. thespun.com. September 5, 2020.
  7. Web site: Smokey Gaines NBA stats. Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 10 March 2024.