[tps_title]LARRY SMITH[/tps_title]
[tps_header]Arizona football coach 1980-86[/tps_header]
Larry Smith coached Arizona to the 1986 Aloha Bowl title, the first bowl victory in program history (FootballFoundation.org photo)
Arizona has inducted numerous coaches and administrators to its hall of fame including no-brainers such as Lute Olson, Jerry Kindall, Pop McKale, Fred A. Enke, Fred Snowden, Dick Tomey, Ced Dempsey, Frank Busch and Andy Lopez (in this year’s class).
Also inducted is former football coach Jim Young, a worthy selection as well, although he was head coach for only four seasons (1973-76). His selection in 1996 was based on how he developed unprecedented success in the program toward the end of Arizona’s affiliation with the Western Athletic Conference.
Larry Smith, an assistant under Young, resurrected what Young started despite the fact Arizona was placed on probation after he was hired in 1980. The infractions, which occurred previous to Smith’s hire during the Tony Mason era, caused Arizona to miss bowl games in 1983 and 1984.
In those two seasons, Arizona went 14-7-1. They actually improved through the NCAA turmoil after the Wildcats went 17-15-1 in his first three seasons. Smith ultimately coached Arizona to its first bowl victory in program history against North Carolina in the 1986 Aloha Bowl.
Smith laid the foundation for success in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) for Arizona in its formative years in the conference. His 48 victories with Arizona ranks third behind Tomey (95) and McKale (80).
What might be working against him is his move to conference rival USC in 1986, ending his seven years in Tucson. But Smith returned in retirement to Tucson after 2000 and supported Arizona before his death from leukemia in 2008.
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