Dr. Murray Smith
Football, Swimming Builder - Inducted 2006
Dr. Murray Smith coached high school basketball, swimming, and football. The first coach of the Edmonton Junior Huskies, he led them to League championships in 1956 and 1957 and was named All-Star Coach three times. At the University of Alberta, he was an assistant coach on the 1980 National Champion football Bears.
As swimming coach at the University of Alberta, the Bears' swimming teams won eight conference championships. He was named Canadian Coach-of-the-Year in 1967. He served 10 years as the executive of Swimming Alberta, including a term as president.
Dr. Smith served as Director of the Sports Division of the Commonwealth Games from 1972 to 1975, and Vice President of Venues for the 1983 World University Games, both of which were held in Edmonton.
He was the sports psychologist for national championship teams in basketball (U of A, 1994 and 1995), and hockey (Kelowna Rockets, Memorial Cup, 2004). He worked with the Edmonton Oilers (1990-1994), Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, and the Cape Breton Oilers (1990-1994): AHL Calder Cup Champions in 1993.
Dr. Smith was a contributing author to Canadian Coaching Certification Program, in Theory, and Technical programs in swimming, hockey, and football. Other writings include his many coaching papers, as well as a book, Mental Skills for the Artistic Sports: Developing Emotional Intelligence, (1998). He also co-authored Basic Hockey and Skating Skills, (1994).
Dr. Smith, in retirement, was Professor and Associate Dean Academic of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. He devoted his time unselfishly to improving the lives of those he taught, coached, and mentored, at the university and in the larger community.
After Induction
2004-05 & 2008-09 Kelowna Rockets, WHL Champions - Sports Psychologist
2011 – Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame
Born: August 4, 1925 at Dauphin, Manitoba
Murray passed away February 26, 2018
