Staff File Photo by Jake Daniels/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Bradley County coach Kent Smith talks to his players during a time out in a basketball game at Baylor School.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - At a time when change seems to be the only constant among high school coaches, it's refreshing to know there are still places where you can count on continuity.
For the last 15 years the only turnover within the Bradley Central basketball program has happened on the court, not the sideline. When the Bears take on District 5-AAA foe Rhea County tonight, it will be Kent Smith's 499th game as head coach.
Barring any further weather interruptions, Smith will coach his 500th game with the program next Tuesday at Soddy-Daisy.
By comparison, the other two boys' programs inside Bradley County - Cleveland and Walker Valley - have gone through seven coaches during that time.
Anyone who has watched Smith coach knows instantly how much his mood swings on every possession. Whether he's stomping his foot after a missed shot or perceived blown call by an official, or pumping his fist in the air with each momentum-shifting rebound or hustle play, you know exactly how the Bears are playing by watching his sideline animations.
To reach milestones such as this, you have to have two traits as a coach - the patience to deal with capricious teenagers and their whiny parents and the flat-out know-how to win a lot of games. Smith's headstrong personality is tailor-made to deal with the problems that come with being a high school coach. And there were times when his disdain for losing simply wouldn't allow the Bears to fail, despite being outmanned athletically.
Smith has averaged 25 wins per season, including five with 30-plus, and in one stretch directed nine consecutive regular-season district championships. Two of his Bears teams were state runners-up in Class AAA.
He is the program's career wins leader with an overall record of 376-122, including 15-6 this year despite a roster void of seniors.
Smith's love of the game came from the bond he built with his late grandfather, M.C. "Tip" Smith, who also coached at Bradley Central and won two state championships there. They shared a love of the game that led Tip and his grandson to watch countless NCAA tournament and NBA playoff games together and often ride to Knoxville together for University of Tennessee games at the old Stokely Athletic Center.
Smith also has been heavily influenced by his father, Gary, who played for Tip at Bradley and has proven his own grit during an eight-year battle with cancer. In the last year, the disease has left him too weak to attend games, but he listens to every Bears radio broadcast, and the Bradley players -- including Kent's nephew Miles -- have such a bond with their coach and his family that they have dedicated the season to Gary.
"The thing that stands out to me was how excited he was when he called to tell me he had gotten the job," said Gary, who listens to games in a separate room from his wife because he gets so caught up in the action. "He was so young then, and he's like Bobby Knight and hates wearing ties, I remember the biggest dilemma was he didn't know what to wear. The first game I think he wore a sport coat and a turtleneck, but that drove him crazy. He tried wearing a tie a couple of times, but I think his assistants were worried he was going to hang himself jumping around in a tie.
"As a father, I get uptight watching him. I don't know whether it's tougher watching your son play or coach. I get uptight during his games because we're a lot alike -- we're both pretty passionate and competitive. But I know he's enjoyed his job and I've enjoyed every minute of watching him. We're all real proud to see him carrying on a family tradition there."