March 25, 2002

Smith Bio & Career Accomplishments
Press Conference Quotes

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- B.J. Smith, who guided Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College to second place in the 2002 NJCAA women's national tournament, has been named the new head women's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University.

Smith will replace Ed Arnzen who retired after being head women's coach at Southeast for the past 19 seasons.

A graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in speech and drama education and an Med in education, Smith had a record of 98-7 in three seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M in Miami, Okla. This year's team was 35-1 and ranked number one in the nation before being beaten in the national championship game.

His prior two teams had records of 33-4 and 30-2 and none of the teams ever ranked lower than fourth place in the NJCAA national poll. His 2001 team led the nation in scoring with 95 points per game.

"We had three outstanding finalists for the head coaching position, but we just felt B.J. Smith represented the best chance to take our program to the next level," said Don Kaverman, Director of Athletics and head of the search committee. "He displayed great enthusiasm and confidence during his campus interview. He has an outstanding competitive record and his student-athletes all graduate. We couldn't be more excited about his acceptance of our offer."

"I'm extremely excited and a bit anxious at the same time," Smith said. "I think the Southeast Missouri women's basketball program is ready to take off and be ultra successful at the Division I level. I know it is going to take a lot of hard work, but I think this job is an excellent fit for me. I think a person can be successful right away and that I have the qualities that will fit well and enable me to make a difference soon."

Smith has also served as women's basketball coach at North Arkansas College (1998-99) where his team was 17-14, associate head women's basketball coach and head track and cross country coach at Phillips University (1996-98) and assistant men's basketball coach at Southwestern State College (1992-96).

Named NJCAA Region II Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002, Smith is director and founder of the Oklahoma Indian All-State Basketball Games and is director and founder of the Northwest Oklahoma All-Star game.

At Northeastern Oklahoma A & M, his teams never had lower than a 3.1 grade point average and 100% of his players graduated or are on schedule to graduate.

"As associate head coach at Phillips University, I had the opportunity to work with Oklahoma legend Denny Price, father of NBA all-star Mark Price as well as an AAU All-American himself along with being an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns and the University of Oklahoma," Smith said. "While at Phillips, I had a chance to be a part of Coach Price's first trip to the national tournament as well as his most successful season as a coach."

Along with his duties as a basketball coach, Smith also started the track and cross country program at Phillips and his teams finished in the top 10 nationally in NAIA cross country and top 20 in men's and women's track."

A proven recruiter, Smith has been able to recruit the type of athlete that has been successful on a national level academically and athletically. His recruiting has been worldwide with much success. "Our recruiting success has been predicated on the ability to search out and find those student-athletes who have the innate desire to be great, that fit in our system, and are willing to make the level of commitment it takes to be successful on a national level," Smith said.

Smith is one-quarter Osage-Pottawatomie Indian and was raised in a single parent home by his mother and grandmother, who are one-half and full-blooded Osage-Pottawatomie. "My upbringing gives me a unique perspective on issues and has allowed me to better understand and relate to many of our players who come from diverse backgrounds locally, nationally and globally," Smith said.

Smith and his wife, Mauricha, have one son, Isaiah, 5. Smith will begin his duties at Southeast immediately.