Gorman coach quits, joins up with Bandits

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

With classes set to begin Monday, defending 4A boys basketball champion Bishop Gorman finds itself back in the hunt for a head coach.

Robert Smith, who took over head coaching duties in June, has resigned to accept an assistant coaching position with the Las Vegas Silver Bandits of the International Basketball League.

Gorman athletic director Norm Craft termed the timing "terrible" and said the school will begin accepting applications for the job immediately.

"We knew last spring that (the Silver Bandits) were pursuing him, but after he accepted I thought it was a done deal," Craft said. "We'll get our (search) committee together and give people time to find out about it, but I just want it done as quickly as possible."

Smith, who worked as a basketball and cross country coach and as a substitute teacher at Bishop Gorman for nine years, said leaving the school was no easy decision.

"It was probably the toughest thing for me to do for a long time," said Smith, who took over after Jeff Wagonseller resigned last spring. "After working with the high school kids all summer, I had to toss and turn for a while about it."

Smith informed his Gorman players of his decision at a team meeting.

Smith starred at UNLV in the 1970s, is a member of the Rebels' Hall of Fame and still ranks as the school's all-time leader in career free-throw percentage (.878).