Carnie Smith

Carnie Smith
Smith pictured in The Kanza 1962, Pittsburg State yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1911-01-29)January 29, 1911
Weir, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 25, 1979(1979-01-25) (aged 67)
Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1930–1932Kansas
Baseball
1931–1932Kansas
Position(s)Quarterback (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1933–1934West Mineral HS (KS)
1935–1940Paola HS (KS)
1946Parsons (KS)
1947California (GA)
1948Santa Rosa
1949–1966Pittsburg State
Basketball
1933–1935West Mineral HS (KS)
1946–1947Parsons (KS)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1966–1976Pittsburg State
Head coaching record
Overall116–52–6 (college football)
Bowls1–0
Tournaments3–0 (NAIA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 NAIA (1957, 1961)
6 CIC (1949, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1961, 1966)
Awards
NAIA Coach of the Year (1961)
First-team All-Big Six (1930)
Second-team All-Big Six (1931)

Carnie Henry Smith (January 29, 1911 – January 25, 1979) was an American college football player and coach. Smith was the seventh head football coach at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. He held that position for 18 seasons, from 1949 until 1966, compiling a record of 116–52–6. His teams won NAIA football national championships in 1957 and 1961.[1] The football stadium at Pittsburg State, Carnie Smith Stadium, is named in his honor.

Smith starred as a quarterback at Arma High School in Arma, Kansas, and then played football and baseball at the University of Kansas. In 1944, Smith was working as assistant director of recreation at a Pratt & Whitney plant before he was commissioned as a lietentant in the United States Naval Reserve.[2] After serving in the Navy during World War II, he coached football and basketball at Parsons Junior College—now known as Labette Community College—in Parsons, Kansas. Smith went to the University of California, Berkeley in 1947, where he served as a graduate assistant for the football team under Pappy Waldorf and earned a master's degree in physical education. In 1948, he was hired as the head football coach at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California.[3]

Smith died on January 25, 1979, at his home in Pittsburg, following a long illness.[4]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Pittsburg State Gorillas (Central Intercollegiate Conference) (1949–1966)
1949 Pittsburg State 8–2–1 5–1 T–1st
1950 Pittsburg State 5–5 4–1 2nd L Mizra Shrine Bowl
1951 Pittsburg State 7–3 4–1 T–1st
1952 Pittsburg State 5–4–1 2–2–1 4th
1953 Pittsburg State 6–3–1 2–2–1 T–3rd
1954 Pittsburg State 6–2 3–2 3rd
1955 Pittsburg State 7–3 5–0 1st
1956 Pittsburg State 7–2–1 3–1–1 T–2nd
1957 Pittsburg State 11–0 5–0 1st W NAIA Championship (Holiday)
1958 Pittsburg State 4–5–1 3–2 2nd
1959 Pittsburg State 6–3 4–1 2nd
1960 Pittsburg State 8–1 4–1 2nd
1961 Pittsburg State 11–0 5–0 1st W NAIA Championship (Camellia)
1962 Pittsburg State 6–3 3–2 3rd
1963 Pittsburg State 5–3–1 2–1–1 2nd
1964 Pittsburg State 4–5 2–2 T–2nd
1965 Pittsburg State 3–6 2–2 3rd
1966 Pittsburg State 7–2 3–1 T–1st
Pittsburg State: 116–52–6 61–22–4
Total: 116–52–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[5]

Junior college football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Parsons Cardinals (Kansas Junior College Conference) (1946)
1946 Parsons 0–6 10th
Parsons: 0–6
Santa Rosa Bear Cubs (Northern California Junior College Conference) (1948)
1948 Santa Rosa 6–4 4–3 2nd (B Division)
Santa Rosa: 6–4 4–3
Total:

References

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  1. ^ Currie, Bill (December 1, 1957). "Pittsburg's Carnie Smith 'Mr. Football' In Kansas". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 4C. Retrieved August 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ "Carnie Smith In Navy". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. April 2, 1944. p. 1B. Retrieved August 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "Carnie Smith Named Bear Cub Grid Coach". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. April 8, 1948. p. 8. Retrieved August 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Smith dies at age 69". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas. Associated Press. January 26, 1979. p. 13. Retrieved August 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Carnie H. Smith". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
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