Coach during 'The Streak' dies

Smith walked into the Wildcats locker room at halftime and smacked what he thought was a regular chalkboard. Within seconds, shards of glass went flying through the room.

"This whole board was made of glass," former UA head coach Jim Young said Monday. "It certainly got the players' attention. But that's what everybody respected the most about Larry — he had a great intensity and a fine mind, and the players certainly respected him."

Smith, the fiery football coach who began "The Streak" against Arizona State and lifted Arizona from NCAA probation to Pac-10 prominence, died Monday at Northwest Medical Center. He was 68.

Smith, a former head coach at Tulane, UA, USC and Missouri, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000 while he was still coaching Missouri. He recently contracted lymphoma and was also battling pneumonia at the time of his death. Smith went 48-28-3 in seven seasons (1980-86) as Arizona's head coach before leaving for Los Angeles. He led the Trojans to Rose Bowl appearances in his first three seasons. Smith was fired by USC in 1992 but resurfaced at Missouri a year later.

For many UA players, Smith will be forever linked to the Wildcats.

"I speak for a lot of our guys. As far as we're concerned, he was never Tulane's coach or USC's coach or Missouri's coach," said Jay Dobyns, a UA wide receiver from 1982 to 1984. "He was Arizona's coach and our coach."

Smith posted a career record of 143-126-7 in stops at four schools. He left his final job, at Missouri, after the 2000 season.

"We went through a lot of ups and downs in football, but through it all Larry was always the same man," said Moe Ankney, a UA assistant from 1980 to 1985 and a close friend. "He was a good friend, a good leader, and a very good husband and father. Somehow, he won wherever he went, in spite of some difficult circumstances."

No situation was tougher than the one he inherited at Arizona.

Tony Mason was fired after the 1979 season following allegations of inappropriate financial behavior. The UA program was headed for NCAA probation.

Smith, the Wildcats former defensive coordinator, was humbled by Arizona State 44-7 in his first season as head coach and also lost the second season 24-13.

Smith responded by putting even more emphasis on the rivalry game, and "The Streak" began.

Under Smith, Arizona dispatched its in-state rival each year from 1982 to 1986, twice costing the Sun Devils a trip to the Rose Bowl. The Wildcats tied Georgia in the 1985 Sun Bowl and defeated North Carolina 30-21 in the 1986 Aloha Bowl.

The victory would be Smith's last as UA coach.

Days later, Smith and eight assistants left Tucson for USC without meeting with their players. Smith's first few trips back to the Old Pueblo were spectacles, marred by boos and obscene gestures.

Smith told the Star in 2006 that leaving the UA for USC was "the toughest decision I ever had to make."

Smith did not stay away for long. He and his wife, Cheryl, relocated to Tucson after Smith was fired at Missouri in 2000.

Smith worked for FSN Arizona as a color analyst for a few years, then took a job with KMSB-TV in Tucson as a football analyst. Smith was a regular inside the Arizona Stadium press box and a frequent visitor to UA practices.

By then, most Arizona fans had forgiven the coach for his awkward departure to USC.

"There are a lot of people that took pictures with him and shook his hand," said Vinnie Vinzetta, host of the show Smith appeared on at KMSB. "The last couple years, I got the impression that it was water under the bridge. People were happy he was back in the community. Larry was a Wildcat, first and foremost. This is where he chose to retire."

Smith was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia in 2000 at Missouri but did not require treatment until returning to Tucson. Smith's final years were marred by a myriad of medical problems: leukemia, skin cancer, a back injury, lymphoma and, finally, pneumonia.

Friend and fellow broadcaster Dave Sitton said Smith approached his illness with the same fire he brought to the football field.

"He wanted to be knowledgeable: 'What do we have planned; what do we do; how can we beat it?'" Sitton said. "I just can't imagine this last go-round for him."

Smith is survived by his wife, Cheryl, children Corby and Alicia, and five grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for Feb. 4. The family said more details should be available today.

Larry Smith at Arizona

1980: 5-6

1981: 6-5

1982: 6-4-1

1983: 7-3-1

1984: 7-4

1985: 8-3-1 (tied Georgia in the Sun Bowl, 13-13)

1986: 9-3 (defeated North Carolina in the Aloha Bowl, 30-21)

Record: 48-28-3

"The Streak"

1982: Arizona 28, ASU 18

1983: Arizona 17, ASU 15

1984: Arizona 16, ASU 10

1985: Arizona 16, ASU 13

1986: Arizona 34, ASU 17

Smith file

Born: Sept. 12, 1939, in Van Wert, Ohio

Wife: Cheryl

Children: Alicia and Corby

High School: Played football, basketball and baseball at Van Wert High School

College: Attended the U.S. Military Academy from 1957 to 1958, then transferred to Bowling Green State University. Graduated with a bachelor's in mathematics in 1962 and with a master's in school administration in 1967.

Head coaching experience:

Tulane — 1976-79 (18-27)

Arizona — 1980-86 (48-28-3)

USC — 1987-92 (44-25-3)

Missouri — 1994-2000 (33-46-1)

Overall — 24 seasons — 143-126-7