COURT MASTER: Oak Hill Academy’s legendary coach Steve Smith to retire with more than 1,200 career wins, 9 national titles at Virginia school; Naismith Hall of Fame next stop

MOUTH OF WILSON, Va. — In what was an anticipated move, Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith will retire effective July 1.

Earlier this year, Smith told Blue Star Media this would occur but waited for the proper moment. Last weekend, the No. 12 Warriors improved to 26-7 after winning three times at the Metro Classic in New Jersey. Oak Hill’s final games will likely happen at the GEICO High School Nationals in April.

Steve Smith, legendary head basketball coach at Oak Hill Academy for the past 37 years, has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2022.

Here’s what Oak Hill President Dr. Michael D. Groves said in a prepared statement:

“Coach Smith’s legacy at our school and his influence on the game of basketball is immeasurable. With over 1200 wins, he ends his tenure as the third-winningest high school coach in the United States. Coach Smith’s teams at Oak Hill Academy have won nine National Championships, and he is a three-time recipient of the Naismith High School Coach of the Year award. To date, he has coached more than 250 Division 1 players and 34 McDonald’s All Americans, as well as numerous NBA All-Stars, NBA and NCAA champions, and Olympic gold medalists.

Steve Smith’s passion for the game of basketball is surpassed only by his love for his family and his loyalty to his players, to his assistant coaches, and to Oak Hill Academy. People of abiding commitment to faith and family, Steve and his wife Lisa served as surrogate parents for generations of students enrolled at our small boarding school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

We congratulate Steve Smith for his unparalleled career and are deeply appreciative that he chose as his profession to invest in the lives of students at our school. In the coming months, we look forward to celebrating his many accomplishments with his family and friends, and with his current team—the nationally ranked 2021-2022 Oak Hill Academy Warriors.

As a founding member of the elite National Interscholastic Basketball Conference  (NIBC), Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to maintaining the national level of our basketball program, including our partnership with Nike. The search for Oak Hill’s next head coach will be managed through the President’s Office,” the statement concluded.