Lefty Smith

Charles 'Lefty' Smith (January 5, 1930 – January 3, 2012) was an American ice hockey player and coach most well known for his long tenure with Notre Dame.[1]

Lefty Smith
Biographical details
Born(1930-01-05)January 5, 1930
Saint Paul, Minnesota
DiedJanuary 3, 2012(2012-01-03) (aged 81)
South Bend, Indiana
Alma materUniversity of St. Thomas
Playing career
1951–1952Minneapolis Millers
1954–1955St. Paul Saints
1956–1957St. Paul Peters
1957–1958St. Paul K.S.T.P.
Position(s)Defenseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1953–1958South Saint Paul Secondary (assistant)
1958–1968South Saint Paul Secondary
1968–1987Notre Dame
Head coaching record
Overall201–69–11 (high school)
285–314–30 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
WCHA Coach of the Year (1973)

Career

A Saint Paul native, Smith spent four years at the nearby University of St. Thomas, playing both hockey and baseball. Smith graduated in 1951 and later returned to earn a master's in guidance and counseling[2] but not before embarking on a short playing career.

In 1953 Smith began his coaching career as an assistant with South Saint Paul Secondary, his old high school. In 1958 he became the head coach of the Packers and spent the next decade leading the team. In that time he posted a record of 201–69–11.[3] His success at the high school level caught the attention of the administration at Notre Dame who chose Smith to become the team's head coach when they rekindled the program in 1968.

Smith's arrival in South Bend coincided with the team becoming a sponsored sport. With Smith behind the bench the Fighting Irish got off to a fast start, going 16–8–3 in their first season and following it up with two good years before they were invited to join the WCHA. After a decent first year Smith led his team to a second-place finish in the powerhouse conference and was awarded the WCHA Coach of the Year for his efforts. In the remaining time the Fighting Irish spent in the WCHA they would typically finish in the lower half of the conference but were able to make the conference tournament each year until 1981. In 1981 Smith's Fighting Irish joined with three other WCHA schools and left to join the CCHA. Smith's squad provided a big surprise in their first season, finishing as the tournament runner-up and tying the team record for most wins in a season (23). After a poor result the following year it was revealed that the program was in jeopardy of ending without an immediate influx of cash.[4] The program was demoted to club status for the 1983–84 season so players would be allowed to transfer without having to sit out a year. When the program returned it did so as an Independent but with reduced scholarships and no recruiting budget the team failed to accomplish much in Smith's final three seasons.

Smith retired as coach in 1987 but kept an office at Notre Dame for the remainder of his life. He died shortly before his 82nd birthday at his home in South Bend from natural causes.[5]

Head coaching record

College
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent) (1968–1971)
1968–69 Notre Dame 16–8–3
1969–70 Notre Dame 21–8–1
1970–71 Notre Dame 13–16–2
Notre Dame: 50–32–6
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (WCHA) (1971–1981)
1971–72 Notre Dame 14–20–010–16–0t-8thWCHA First Round
1972–73 Notre Dame 23–14–119–9–02ndWCHA Second Round
1973–74 Notre Dame 14–20–211–16–18thWCHA First Round
1974–75 Notre Dame 13–22–310–19–37thWCHA First Round
1975–76 Notre Dame 19–17–215–15–25thWCHA First Round
1976–77 Notre Dame 22–13–319–10–32ndWCHA First Round
1977–78 Notre Dame 12–24–212–19–1t-7thWCHA First Round
1978–79 Notre Dame 18–19–117–14–15thWCHA First Round
1979–80 Notre Dame 18–20–113–14–15thWCHA Second Round
1980–81 Notre Dame 13–21–29–18–19th
Notre Dame: 166–190–17135–150–13
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA) (1981–1983)
1981–82 Notre Dame 23–15–215–13–2t-4thCCHA Runner-Up
1982–83 Notre Dame 13–21–213–17–2t-7thCCHA Quarterfinals
Notre Dame: 36–36–428–30–4
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CSCHL) (1983–1984)
1983–84 Notre Dame 22–6–2CSCHL Semifinals
Notre Dame: 22–6–2
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent) (1984–1987)
1984–85 Notre Dame 11–16–1
1985–86 Notre Dame 12–21–1
1986–87 Notre Dame 10–19–1
Notre Dame: 33–56–3
Total:285–314–30†

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

†Total does not include the 1983–84 season because the team played under club status [6]

References
  1. "Notre Dame Legend Lefty Smith, 81, Dies". College Hockey News. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  2. "Notre Dame hockey: Irish legend Lefty Smith dies". South Bend Tribune. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  3. "Former Notre Dame hockey coach Smith dies at 81". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  4. "Hockey Program in Peril at Notre Dame". New York Times. 1983-01-23. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  5. "Legendary Coach "Lefty" Smith Dies". Notre Dame Today. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  6. "2015-16 Notre Dame Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
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