Peabody Magnet High School’s Head Basketball Coach, Charles Smith, returns home from Naismith Hall of Fame Induction

ALEXANDRIA, La. ( WNTZ ) – Coach Charles Smith was warmly welcomed back to Peabody Magnet High School by the entire student body, community members, spirit teams, and the band. Sporting his iconic Naismith Hall of Fame orange jacket, Smith walked through the halls of PMHS before heading to the gym, where an assembly was held in his honor.

Smith, part of a 13-member class, was inducted last Sunday in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“I’ve always believed that Peabody Magnet High School and the Peabody basketball program are goodwill ambassadors. I tried to represent that up in Springfield. I mentioned my hometown, which is in Rapides Parish, and that without Peabody Magnet High School and the students’ belief in me, there would be no Coach Smith. Today, I give them honor for this tremendous celebration,” said Coach Smith.

During his induction in Springfield, Smith delivered a heartfelt and, at times, humorous speech, highlighting his passion for teaching, his students, and his love for Rapides Parish.

Smith is only the sixth high school basketball coach to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Among his many accomplishments, he was named ESPN’s National Coach of the Year after an undefeated 41-0 season in 2010 and coached in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2020.

However, despite these accolades, Smith places academics above all in an athlete’s journey.

“Since Superintendent Powell came on board, he’s emphasized academics, and I’ve always stressed that in my 54 years of teaching. To be an athlete, you must first be academically sound. Because of that focus, I’ve been able to send students to major universities like UConn, Alabama, and USC. They’ve gone on to become vice presidents at Fortune 500 companies, doctors, lawyers, and pilots. That, to me, is the most important part of this mission. Even the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, no longer plays basketball. Sports only last for a while, but academics last a lifetime,” said Coach Smith.

Coach Smith’s humility, talent, and dedication to his school community are unmatched. His return to campus marked a celebration of perseverance, belief, and a winning mindset.

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