The National Association of Basketball Coaches will present its 11th annual Outstanding Service Award at the Division III meeting of this year's convention in Indianapolis on March 31. The award has been presented annually since 1997 and is given to coaches whose actions “inside and outside the lines” of coaching have distinguished them as valuable members of their communities
Three extremely deserving coaches will be recognized at the convention. This year's honorees are Emory and Henry coach Bob Johnson, outgoing Redlands coach Gary Smith and Nebraska Wesleyan athletic director Ira Zeff.
Since 1981, Johnson has directed the Wasps to 370 victories, making the NCAA Tournament five times with two Sweet Sixteen appearances. In his 27 year tenure Johnson has garnered three ODAC Coach of the Year Awards and three South Region Coach of the Year Awards. Johnson taught Western Civilization for 17 years and has carried a full teaching load for 27 years at the college. He received the James A. Davis Faculty Award for excellence in teaching and outstanding service beyond the classroom. Bob is a combat veteran of Vietnam with the Ranger Platoon of the 101st Airborne Division.
For parts of five decades, Smith has been a part of Redlands basketball. From 1961 when he matriculated to college to 2007 his 36th season as head coach he has been a fixture on the campus for all but six of those 46 years. Gary has compiled more wins in the SCIAC than any coach in its history. He was named D3hoops.com West Region coach of the year. His team has led the nation in scoring and his 2004-05 team holds the NCAA all-divisions record of 132.4 points per game. Smith also served as an assistant coach for the West Team at the United States Olympic Festival in 1994. Gary has also a longtime member of the NABC, the American Association of University Professors and President of Kappa Sigma Sigma Alumni Association.
Zeff has been an avid proponent of collegiate athletics and basketball for the past 33 years. Zeff earned his Doctorate Degree in 1985 while serving as an assistant basketball coach at New Mexico. Ira was the athletic director and basketball coach at Blackburn for seven years. He has been the athletic director at Nebraska Wesleyan for the past 9 years. Zeff served as chair of the Division III men's basketball committee. Promoting Division III Basketball has been a high priority of his collegiate tenure. Zeff has participated in Lend a Hand community outreach program and is a March of Dimes volunteer and fundraiser.
The NABC is extremely pleased to honor these gentlemen. They have been ideal coaches throughout their careers, not only as great teachers, but also as great men in what they have given back to their communities. Like all great coaches they are educators first and foremost. Not only have they done a terrific job in communicating strategies and techniques to their respective teams, they have also distinguished themselves as wonderful examples to their players and associates. These men embody the spirit of coaching. They chose to become involved to make their communities better places for everyone. These men exemplify excellence in athletics and personify the leadership qualities of exceptional people. They are the definition of role models.