GREENVILLE, N.C.—The High Point University men’s basketball team defeated East Carolina 55-52 for HPU Head Coach Tubby Smith’s 600th career coaching win Saturday, Nov. 24.

Smith (pictured) is now the 15th active NCAA Division I head coach with 600 career wins and is the 27th active NCAA head coach across all divisions to accomplish the feat.

“You never look at the numbers, you just play and coach, but to be back home and be part of the transformation at High Point University that has been taking place under President Dr. Qubein and Athletic Director Dan Hauser is special,” said Smith. “I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to lead this program at this time and I’m grateful to have this chance to get my 600th win at my alma mater.”

Junior Jahaad Proctor of High Point led all scorers with 20 points, his fourth game this season with 20 or more. Juniors Jamal Wright and Brandonn Kamga each added nine points, while Madison once again led HPU with seven rebounds.

Smith’s college head coaching career started at Tulsa in 1991, with his first win coming against Charleston Southern on Dec. 14, 1991. He picked up 79 wins in four seasons with Tulsa, including two NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances.

After 45 wins with Georgia in two seasons and two more NCAA trips, Smith was hired at Kentucky where he won 263 games in 10 seasons. Smith and the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament all 10 seasons, earned six Sweet Sixteen trips, four Elite Eight appearances and won the 1998 National Championship.

Smith moved on to Minnesota where he picked up 124 wins in six seasons and made three additional NCAA Tournaments. 46 wins three seasons at Texas Tech followed for Smith. In his final stop before coming home to High Point, Smith earned 40 wins in two seasons at Memphis.

The Panthers return to action Tuesday, Nov. 27, when they travel to Charleston, S.C., to take on The Citadel at 7 p.m.

Photo by Jamie H. Vaught