Jim Smith

Longtime St. John's basketball coach Jim Smith was born and grew up in Elgin, Illinois. Jim's dad was a milkman and his mother ran the cafeteria at St. Edward's High School. He recalls his parents being very frugal and hard working.

St. John's head men's basketball coach Jim Smith talked with me on WJON today. Jim is the all-time winningest coach in Minnesota college basketball history with 786. Smith led his teams to seven MIAC titles, five MIAC playoff titles, nine trips to the NAIA tournament and eight trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs, most recently in 2007.

After 51 years on the bench, Saint John's University men's basketball coach has decided to retire. Jim Smith announced his retirement earlier today (Tuesday) finishing as Minnesota's all-time leader in college basketball wins.