Coaches

Tom Smith

Year Inducted: 2004

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations:

Minier Grade School, Olympia Middle School

Eastern Illinois University

Biography:

Tom coached for 36 years and compiled a 579-319 record. He coached for 23 years at Minier Grade School and 13 years at Olympia Middle School. He retired from coaching in 1999 after his team finished third in the IESA state junior high tournament. His teams advanced to the Sweet Sixteen four times and took fourth in the IESA state tournament in 1991. He also coached baseball, track, girls’ volleyball and cross country at the grade school level.

He was a member of the Phi Kappa Epsilon Honorary Athletic fraternity while a student at Eastern Illinois University and was named IBCA Coach of the Year in 1991. He was inducted into the Olympia School Hall of Fame in 1999.  

Tom Smith died April 28, 1999 at the age of 62.  He was inducted into the hall of fame posthumously.