Emerson Perry Smith
Retired USNA Coach
1957 - 1985
Photograph by James French
1932 Kent, Ohio
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Emerson Smith was a native of Kent, Ohio. He
graduated from Kent State High School in 1938 lettering in three sports and
the Captain of the football and basketball teams his senior year. Coach
Smith accepted a four year scholarship to Geneva College for football, and
he lettered in football, track and basketball. In 1941 he entered the Navy
and became a Chief Specialist in Athletics. While in the Navy he was a
member of the Newport, RI boxing team under the coaching of Freddie ?Red?
Cockran and Steve Belloise. He was the head boxing coach for a year at the
Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, MD before he was sent to the South
Pacific. For his contribution to Navy boxing as a participant, coach and
official he was awarded a Certificate of Merit.
In 1946 Coach Smith returned to Geneva College graduating as the President
of his Class in 1947. For the next ten years Mr. Smith coached and taught at
Easton High School and was the Athletic Director, Head Basketball Coach and
Track Coach. Coach Smith then spent two years as an Assistant Professor of
Education and Head Basketball Coach at Washington College in Chestertown,
MD.
Emerson arrived at the Naval Academy in 1957 as an Assistant Coach in Boxing
and Basketball. In 1964 he became the Head Boxing Coach and coached until
his retirement in 1985. During his tenure at the Naval Academy in addition
to the boxing program, he promoted three major boxing events: the Plebe Open
Championship; the Brigade Boxing Championship; and the Navy Junior Boxing
Show.
Coach Smith wrote extensively and was very proactive in ensuring that boxing
was a safe sport. With engineering professor Jack Smith, he conducted
research on twenty different materials resulting in a combination of
materials still used today in boxing gloves and head gear. Coach Smith held
Masters Degrees from the University of Maryland and Bowie State College.
Coach Smith was married to the former Louise M. McKnett of Easton, MD and
they had three children: Stephen, Deborah; and Michael. He was a member of
the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, the National Intramural Association
and the National Basketball Coaches Association. Coach Smith held masters
Degrees from the University of Maryland and Bowie State College.
Coach Smith died August 22, 1998. His obituary: Coach_Smith0113.pdf
This Sportsmanship Award was created in 1988. Past Award winners are:
1988 -1989 Ty Biggs 1989
1999 - 2000 Daryl Horton 2000
2000 - 2001 A.J. Washington 2001
2001 - 2002 Steve Cobos 2002
2002 - 2003 Agur Adams 2003
2003-2004
David
Rainey
2004-2005
Dan
Martinez
2005-2006
Nick
Tawil
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