The Tennessee Tech community is mourning the loss of former tennis coach and administrator Randy Smith.
Smith passed away this weekend. Former Associate Athletic Director Frank Harrell said Smith served as the head tennis coach as well as associate athletic director for facilities and game management.
“You can tell from the reaction of the people who knew Randy after he passed away this past Saturday,” Harrell said, “I spent all Saturday on the phone or answering texts from former players, former friends, former coaches expressing their love and respect and admiration for Randy.”
Harrell said Smith won four conference championships and was named Coach of the Year four times during his tenure. Harrell said Smith also served on a national tennis committee for five years to help determine NCAA tournament invitations.
“He had a big heart, big heart for everybody,” Harrell said. “He’s one of those guys that I don’t know anybody that didn’t like Randy Smith.”
Former Director of Athletic Facilities and Game Management Ben Shannon said he was a student-athlete when he first met Smith before later being hired by him. Shannon said Smith was a genuine person who often worked behind the scenes to help others without seeking recognition.
“He made everybody around him feel comfortable to to be their best and and to to try to reach the goals and ceilings that they had,” Shannon said. “He was always a guy that I trusted.”
Shannon said Smith understood the specific needs of coaches and players because of his own background on the court. Shannon said even when athletic budgets were tight in the early 2000s, Smith would find ways to provide for the programs.
“He kind of walked on that fine line of where he was feared enough that players wanted to do what was right and follow the rules and give their best effort for him,” Shannon said. “But they felt so comfortable around them you know and they gave him so much respect.”
Community partner and friend Dan Turnbow said Smith was an upbeat individual who never met a stranger. Turnbow said Smith was particularly effective at helping international students immerse themselves in the local community.
“I think we’ll find out when they have the celebration of life how many will actually be coming because he coached children from Turkey, Russia, Spain, Germany, I mean you name it we had some we had some foreign players that came here and and really enjoyed Tennessee Tech and enjoyed Randy,” Turnbow said. “And so he was really an ambassador for Tennessee Tech.”
Harrell said Smith remained connected to the university long after moving to Florida, often attending Tennessee Tech sporting events when teams traveled to the state. Harrell said Smith’s influence extended across the entire campus, from the president’s office to various academic departments.
“Randy was always there for me and a hundred other people and we tried to be, it’s hard to be there for him cause he was a little bit independent and wanted to just be independent and do things himself,” Harrell said. “So a lot of times I say ‘Hey Randy I’m going to do this for you because if I don’t you’re cheating me out of my blessings.’”
Harrell said a ceremony for Smith is expected to be held in Cookeville in mid to late July. Harrell said that in lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Tennessee Tech tennis program.