New Memphis City Schools A.D. says ‘It’s all about the kids’

By Dr. Jesse F. McClure | Published 07/30/2008

David “Smokey” Gaines is the new Athletic Director for the Memphis City Schools. For Gaines, his new position is but the latest stop in a journey that has taken him all over the world.

For the past three years, Gaines – a former Harlem Globetrotter – served as men’s basketball coach and athletic director at LeMoyne-Owen College. While he enjoyed his time at his alma mater, Gaines said, “I am really excited about working with youngsters who attend Memphis City Schools and having the opportunity to improve their lives. It is all about the kids.”

Gaines is replacing long time city schools’ athletic director, Wayne Weedon. Gaines’ assistant will be Northside High School athletic director and girls’ basketball coach Donald Holmes. Both men declined to comment on any of the past controversies surrounding athletic programs in the city schools.

“I am only looking forward and not backwards,” Gaines said, referring to Memphis City Schools.

Gaines, however, does look back to trace the connection between education and athletics in his life. “All of the successes I have had in my life are a result of my education and my education has come because of my involvement with athletics,” he said.

He wants students to succeed both in their schoolwork and in their sports.

“Too many athletes are not succeeding in school and do not have options after they finish playing. I had options and I want all our student athletes to have options.”

Gaines earned his Bachelor of Science degree at LeMoyne-Owen and a Master of Arts degree at Eastern Michigan University.

Parents can expect to hear from Gaines whosaid he will try to get them more involved with the school system’s athletic programs. And while Gaines said it is too early for him to get specific about program changes, he’s looking forward to working with the Memphis Redbirds in supporting baseball and softball programs.

Gaines and Holmes are both avid golfers and would like to get younger students learning to play. Gaines says they will explore opportunities to work with the First Tee program in Memphis.

A native of Detroit, Gaines first came to Memphis in 1959 to attend LeMoyne -Owen and play basketball for legendary coach Jerry C. Johnson. After leaving LeMoyne-Owen, Gaines became a world traveler, playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. He was the Globetrotters’ “dribbling whiz” before “Curly” Neal.

After almost four years with the Globetrotters, Gaines played in the old American Basketball Association (ABA) for a season. He returned to Memphis when his playing days ended and spent a year as an assistant coach at LeMoyne-Owen. Later, he served as an elementary teacher, high school teacher and as an athletic director for a Job Corps program.

Gaines big break came in 1973 when he joined then University of Detroit head basketball coach and current ESPN basketball analyst, Dick Vitale. After serving four years as Vitale’s assistant, Gaines became head coach at Detroit in 1977. He had two successful seasons in Detroit and joined the ranks of John Thompson, Fred Snowden and George Raveling as one of the few African-American head coaches at Division 1 colleges.

In 1979, Gaines left Detroit to become head basketball coach at San Diego State University. He broke the hearts of many Memphis Tiger fans when he successfully recruited West Memphis high school basketball star,Michael Cage. At the time, most observers thought Cage would take the short trip across the river to play for the Tigers.

“When Michael saw the San Diego State campus, the ocean and students sun bathing, I knew he would be playing for me,” said Gaines.

Cage became a star at San Diego State followed by a long and successful career in the NBA.

In 1987, Gaines left coaching to become an assistant athletic director at San Diego State. Two years later, he joined the NBA’s Denver Nuggets as a professional scout. He left the Nuggets in 1994 and until moving to Memphis in 2005, headed a number of business ventures in San Diego and Las Vegas.

“All of my experiences will help me in my new position with the Memphis City Schools,” Gaines said.

David

Honors for a Legend

By Dr. Jesse F. McClure | Published 06/12/2008 | Sports | Unrated

Legendary LeMoyne-Owen College basketball coach Jerry C. Johnson said he takes the greatest pride in seeing the youngsters who played for him “grow and develop into contributing members of their communities.” (Photo by Wiley Henry)     The college basketball coach with the most victories and direct ties to Memphis is on this list: Gene Bartow, John Calipari, Larry Finch, Jerry C. Johnson and Vertis Sails Jr. If you selected Johnson, the legendary coach of the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians, you’re on your game.   On June 20, the Memphis Chapter of the LeMoyne-Owen College Alumni Association will host a citywide toast of Johnson and a celebration of the coach’s 90th birthday. The special evening at the Holiday Inn Select on Democrat Road will also launch the Jerry C. Johnson Scholarship Program at the college. Johnson is one of only 10 college basketball coaches in history to win more than 800 games. During his 46-year coaching career at LeMoyne-Owen, Johnson won 821 games, a national championship, 10 conference championships, and made several N.C.A.A. tournament appearances. Three years ago, Johnson retired from coaching. Since then he has received numerous honors for his outstanding career. He was inducted into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (S.I.A.C.) Hall of Fame, the Fayetteville State University Hall of Fame, and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The coach of the year award for the S.I.A.C. is now The Jerry C. Johnson Coach of the Year Award. And in 1991, LeMoyne-Owen College awarded Johnson an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. With all his victories and awards, Johnson said he takes the greatest pride in seeing the youngsters who played for him “grow and develop into contributing members of their communities.” Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton is among the most recognized of Johnson’s former players. “Herenton had not played much basketball before joining my team. Over time (he) became a good rebounder and valuable member of the team,” said Johnson, who chuckled as he recalled that Herenton, a champion boxer, was a real asset sometimes in the small Southern towns where a team from Memphis was not welcomed with open arms. David “Smokey” Gaines is another of Johnson’s high profile former players. After LeMoyne-Owen, Gaines played for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Kentucky Colonels of the old A.B.A. Later, Gaines was one of the pioneering African American coaches at so-called majority institutions when he became the head coach at the University of Detroit and at San Diego State. “Johnson was so successful that he almost didn’t have to recruit players because so many wanted to play at LeMoyne-Owen,” said Gaines. That observation draws a smile from Johnson. “Gaines must have a bad memory because recruiting was always one of my strengths,” he said. Several of Johnson’s former players have become outstanding basketball coaches. That list includes Vertis Sails, the legendary coach at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Robert Newman, the leading scorer on Johnson’s national championship, heads the successful girls basketball program at Melrose High School. Coach Johnson also had a hand in the development of Tony Johnson (no relation), who is considered one of the best athletes to attend LeMoyne-Owen. Tony Johnson earned All American honors in basketball and baseball, and played major league baseball for the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays. LeMoyne-Owen board chairman Robert Lipscomb did not play basketball at LeMoyne-Owen, but he was a member of the cross-country team that Johnson coached. Lipscomb now runs the Memphis Housing Authority and the Division of Housing and Community Development for the City of Memphis. Johnson said he landed in Memphis and LeMoyne-Owen almost by accident. While a student at Fayetteville State University, Johnson met John McClendon, the renowned African-American basketball coach who was then at North Carolina Central College. McClendon, who learned his basketball from Dr. James Naismith, the recognized inventor of the game, took Johnson under his wing. McClendon – the first African American to coach a professional basketball team – left North Carolina to take the head coaching position at Tennessee State University in Nashville in the late 1950’s. Johnson planned to follow McClendon to Nashville, but McClendon learned the LeMoyne-Owen coaching position was open and almost demanded that Johnson accept the job. During his early years at LeMoyne-Owen, Johnson’s teams played all comers, including several that now would be considered Division 1 schools. That prepared his teams for the smaller colleges in LeMoyne-Owen’s conference. Johnson’s 1974-75 team won a national championship, and as he recalled they “had a pretty easy time winning because we were battle tested.” With so many good teams during his 46-year tenure, Johnson said he is not sure which was the best. One of the better teams, he said, was the 1999-2000 team that won the S.I.A.C. championship and made the NCAA Tournament. That year, Johnson coached against the current University of Tennessee Coach, Bruce Pearl. Pearl was then the coach of the University of Southern Indiana. LeMoyne-Owen lost narrowly after center Wade Evans fouled out just after the second half began. Johnson had opportunities to coach elsewhere, including at a Big 10 Conference offer that he and his family vetoed because they loved Memphis. Family is a big deal to Johnson. For 53 years, he was married to the late Vaster Johnson, an elementary school teacher for over 50 years. The couple had three children, Wandra Johnson Haywood, a nurse with the Veterans Administration in Florida, Dr. Jerry Johnson Jr., a physician in Philadelphia, and Oliver Johnson, a computer professional who lives in Atlanta. Mayor Herenton will headline next week’s event in recognition of Johnson. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois Deberry, U of M Coach John Calipari, and Southwest Tennessee Coach Vertis Sails Jr. will be among the many dignitaries paying tribute to Johnson. Many of Johnson’s National Championship team members will attend, along with dozens of former players from other years. “The celebration on June 20 will not only recognize Coach Johnson’s lifetime of achievement, but will insure that his legacy will continue forever,” said Jeffrey Higgs, the executive director of the Lemoyne-Owen College Community Development Corporation. The scholarships named for Coach Johnson will help future student athletes pursue both their athletic and educational goals. copyright Tri-State Defender 2008