Court Named for Legendary Coach

In January, Emerson named its basketball court the Hank Smith Court, in honor of the former men’s basketball coach who led the Emerson Lions to 258 wins from 1994 to 2010.

As a friend and mentor to the student-athletes he coached, Smith made a lasting impression at Emerson. His work helped elevate the program to its current spot in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) league.

The January event became a homecoming of sorts for many of Smith’s former players, drawing more than 125 alumni, friends, and fans to Emerson to celebrate the dedication of the court, housed within the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym in Piano Row, so named to honor a generous gift from Emerson player and cosmetics company founder Bobbi Brown ’79, LHD ’12, and her husband.

“Why did they [dedicate the court in my name]? They did it for the former players and the team. All I can do is be grateful to the former players,” said Smith, who’s in regular contact with about 30 former Emerson basketball players. “The College rewarded me through them. I’m the name on it, but it’s [for] all of our teams.”

Before the basketball court in the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym was built, players had to be very resourceful. Gone are the days of having to organize fall practices at outdoor courts on the edge of Chinatown and the expressway. Or taking the T for 45 minutes to play at MassArt’s gym, only to find the space set up for a gala, which happened on at least one occasion.

Among the alumni in attendance at the dedication was Sam Presti ’00, executive vice president and general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who fondly recalled his time as a student-athlete at Emerson.

“The mentality of the program was built on taking limitations and turning them into signature strengths,” he said.