Mike Smith

An outstanding three-sport athlete, Mike Smith left his mark as a player and coach at Kokomo High School like few have. The 1965 graduate
started as a linebacker and offensive guard on the ’63 and ’64 Kat squads that turned in 9-1 and 10-0 seasons – the latter squad thought by many to
be Kokomo’s finest ever. While lining up as the team’s smallest starting lineman at 175 pounds, Smith nonetheless earned All-State honors as a
senior on a squad that finished with the state’s No. 2 ranking. The Indiana State graduate played one season of football in Terre Haute before
suffering a career-ending injury.

Smith also played three seasons of varsity baseball at Kokomo as a catcher and third baseman. He excelled at all levels on the diamond. Smith
played three seasons of American Legion baseball, four with the semi-pro Kokomo Highlanders and six more in Kokomo while playing at the
state’s top level of fastpitch softball.

A history teacher for 40 years at KHS, Smith was an assistant wrestling coach for five years and an assistant football coach for 15. After serving as
assistant baseball coach for eight seasons, Smith was named head coach in 1982 and he directed the program for 17 seasons. While fashioning a
295-178 won-lost record, Smith led the 1985 Kats to a single-class IHSAA state baseball championship before guiding the ’88 Kats to a state
runner-up finish.