Lyle Smith
Encyclopedia
Lyle H. Smith is a former American football
and basketball
player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the Untied States. He served as the head football coach at Boise Junior College—now Boise State University
—from 1947 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of 156–26–6. Smith was also the head basketball coach at Boise Junior College for on season in 1946–47, tallying a mark of 24–9, and the school athletic director
from 1968 to 1981. Boise was a junior college
program during Smith's coaching career; it moved up to NCAA Division II in 1968, Division I-AA in 1978, and Division I-A in 1996.
, and graduated from Moscow High School
in 1934. He initially attended the University of Idaho's Southern Branch—now Idaho State University
in Pocatello—and then returned to his hometown tp attended the University of Idaho
, where he was a two-sport athlete for the Vandals
, a center
on the football
team and a guard on the basketball team. He received a bachelor's degree
in 1939 and then embarked on a teaching career.
in 1942 during World War II
, and then became an assistant football coach at Boise Junior College in 1946, and its head coach the following year. Boise won the NJCAA National Football Championship
in 1958.
teammate Tony Knap
to coach the Broncos in 1968, and Knap's successor Jim Criner
in 1976.
The playing field at Bronco Stadium
was dedicated in Smith's honor on November 8, 1980.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the Untied States. He served as the head football coach at Boise Junior College—now Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
—from 1947 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of 156–26–6. Smith was also the head basketball coach at Boise Junior College for on season in 1946–47, tallying a mark of 24–9, and the school athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
from 1968 to 1981. Boise was a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
program during Smith's coaching career; it moved up to NCAA Division II in 1968, Division I-AA in 1978, and Division I-A in 1996.
Early life and playing career
Smith, the son of Burrel F. Smith and Addie (Humphrey) Smith, was raised in Moscow, IdahoMoscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, and graduated from Moscow High School
Moscow High School
Moscow High School is a three-year public secondary school in Moscow, Idaho. A senior high school, it serves grades 10-12, and its principal is Bob Celebrezze....
in 1934. He initially attended the University of Idaho's Southern Branch—now Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
in Pocatello—and then returned to his hometown tp attended the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, where he was a two-sport athlete for the Vandals
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
, a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
on the football
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
team and a guard on the basketball team. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1939 and then embarked on a teaching career.
Military service and coaching career
Smith entered the NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1942 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and then became an assistant football coach at Boise Junior College in 1946, and its head coach the following year. Boise won the NJCAA National Football Championship
NJCAA National Football Championship
National Junior College Athletic Association national football champions:*1956 Coffeyville Community College*1957 Texarkana College*1958 Boise Junior College*1959 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College...
in 1958.
Administrative career and honors
After stepping down as head coach and becoming athletic director, Smith hired former VandalIdaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
teammate Tony Knap
Tony Knap
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Knap was a college football head coach and former player. He was the head coach at Utah State , Boise State , and UNLV , compiling a career college football record of 143–53–4.-Biography:The oldest son of Polish immigrants, Knap was raised in Milwaukee,...
to coach the Broncos in 1968, and Knap's successor Jim Criner
Jim Criner
Jim Criner is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Boise State University from 1976 to 1982 and at Iowa State University from 1983 to 1986, compiling a career college football record of 76–46–3...
in 1976.
The playing field at Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
was dedicated in Smith's honor on November 8, 1980.