1920s-era HBCU coach on College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Courtesy of Hampton Athletics

HAMPTON, Va. – Legendary HBCU soccer coach Gideon Smith has been nominated for the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. Smith served as head soccer coach at Hampton College from 1921-1940 recording a 102-47-13 report.

He led the Pirates to the 1922 Black School Nationwide Championship and 4 CIAA crowns. His 1926 and 1931 groups have been undefeated. The 1931 squad outscored their opponents 187-6. Recognized for his or her powerful protection, the Pirates have been ranked within the prime 12 for fewest factors allowed 10 occasions in Smith’s 20 seasons as head coach. He’s the longest-tenured and second-winningest soccer coach in Hampton College historical past.

Smith grew to become the primary African-American athlete at Ferris State from 1910-12 earlier than transferring to Michigan Agricultural School (now Michigan State). Smith was the primary African-American to play any sport at Michigan Agricultural School (now Michigan State). When he confirmed up for the workforce’s first observe, Coach John Macklin turned him away and refused to difficulty him a uniform. Smith returned the subsequent day carrying his highschool uniform. Impressed together with his energy of character, Macklin allowed him to affix the Aggies squad the place he was a standout lineman. Following commencement in 1916, Smith performed briefly with the Canton Bulldogs the place he performed alongside Jim Thorpe.

He grew to become a instructor at West Virginia Collegiate Institute (an HBCU that’s now West Virginia State) in 1916 earlier than shifting to Virginia State School for Negroes (now Virginia State) in 1920.

In 1921, he was named head soccer coach at Hampton. He remained within the place for 20 years earlier than retiring in 1940. Smith died on Might 6, 1968, on the age of 78 on the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salem, Va. Smith was born in Northwest Norfolk County, Va., on July 13, 1889, simply 24 years after the abolition of slavery.

HBCU College Football Hall of Fame Gideon Smith

Smith is certainly one of 11 HBCU candidates on the 2025 poll together with Ashley Ambrose (Mississippi Valley State), Vincent Brown (Mississippi Valley State), Parnell Dickinson (Mississippi Valley State), William Dillon (Virginia Union), Carl Hairston (Maryland-Japanese Shore), Timmy Newsome (Winston-Salem State), Michael Strahan (Texas-Southern), Rod Broadway (North Carolina Central, Grambling State. North Carolina A&T), Invoice Hayes (Winston-Salem State, North Carolina A&T), and Eddie Damage (Virginia-Lynchburg).

Ought to Gideon Smith be elected to the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, he could be the second Hampton head soccer coach enshrined. Joe Taylor’s Hampton groups gained 5 Black School Nationwide Championships (1994, 1997, 2004, 2005, and 2006) and eight convention titles in 16 seasons from 1992-07. His squads posted a 136-49-1 report with seven NCAA FCS Playoff appearances. Taylor was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2019.

Smith was inducted into the Hampton Athletics Corridor of Fame’s inaugural class in 2009 and the Michigan State’s inaugural Athletics Corridor of Fame in 1994.