University of Delaware Athletics
Hall of Fame
Jim Smith
- Induction:
- 2011
- Class:
- 1958
KENNETH J. “JIM” SMITH
(1935-1999)
Men’s Basketball (1954-57)
Baseball (1956-58)
A top multi-sport athlete for the University of Delaware during the decade of the 1950’s, Jim Smith starred in both baseball and basketball for the Blue Hens between 1954-58.
A native of Wilmington, Del., Jim was a three-year standout as a guard in basketball for UD Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Irv Wisniewski, earning All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors twice in 1956 and 1957 and finishing second in the league in scoring both seasons. He became just the second player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career (1,053).
An intense competitor, he set a school record in 1955-56 when he averaged 20.6 points per game and his 43-point effort vs. Swarthmore that year still stands as the third highest single game output in school history.
On the diamond, Jim was a three-year regular as an infielder and earned All-District honors as a junior in 1957 when he batted .354 with 15 RBI and an NCAA-record seven triples for another UD Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond. Jim also batted .323 with 16 RBI as a senior.
The 1958 Delaware graduate was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played briefly in the minor leagues. He later played 18 years in the Wilmington semi-pro league and batted .344 for his career. He was inducted into the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2008.
Jim spent 35 years as a teacher in the Red Clay School District and coached football and girls basketball, serving as head coach of the girls basketball team at Dickinson High School that won the 1978 state title. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 64.
(1935-1999)
Men’s Basketball (1954-57)
Baseball (1956-58)
A top multi-sport athlete for the University of Delaware during the decade of the 1950’s, Jim Smith starred in both baseball and basketball for the Blue Hens between 1954-58.
A native of Wilmington, Del., Jim was a three-year standout as a guard in basketball for UD Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Irv Wisniewski, earning All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors twice in 1956 and 1957 and finishing second in the league in scoring both seasons. He became just the second player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career (1,053).
An intense competitor, he set a school record in 1955-56 when he averaged 20.6 points per game and his 43-point effort vs. Swarthmore that year still stands as the third highest single game output in school history.
On the diamond, Jim was a three-year regular as an infielder and earned All-District honors as a junior in 1957 when he batted .354 with 15 RBI and an NCAA-record seven triples for another UD Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond. Jim also batted .323 with 16 RBI as a senior.
The 1958 Delaware graduate was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played briefly in the minor leagues. He later played 18 years in the Wilmington semi-pro league and batted .344 for his career. He was inducted into the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2008.
Jim spent 35 years as a teacher in the Red Clay School District and coached football and girls basketball, serving as head coach of the girls basketball team at Dickinson High School that won the 1978 state title. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 64.
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