Funeral plans set for legendary ASU Coach Hamp Smith

ALBANY – Legendary Albany State University football and baseball coach Hampton Smith will be laid to rest Saturday during ceremonies at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church at 11 a.m. The church is located at 1501 Newton Road in Albany.

Albany State announced Smith’s passing earlier this week with a post on its social media accounts. Smith was 89 at the time of his death. A moment of silence to honor the coach is being planned before the Golden Rams take the field for Saturday’s game against Central State University at the Albany State Coliseum. A halftime ceremony is also being planned.

He leaves behind many, many Albany area friends, family, coaches and players.

“I was very fortunate to play for Coach Smith in 1983 and 1984 and coached under him for several years as an assistant coach,” said Westover principal William Chunn, “I learned so much from him. All of Coach Smith’s former players have their own Coach Smith story. He provided all of us with lasting memories. When we are together we always share these memories. My favorite memory was playing on the 1984 team during my senior season and winning the first championship in school history. “

As Albany State’s head coach, Smith led the Golden Rams to nine SIAC titles, which included two terms as head football coach. He led the program from 1971 through 1976 before leaving and ultimately returning in 1982. 

“If you knew or ever had an encounter with coach Hampton Smith, you knew immediately, He Was One Of A Kind!!!,” Chunn said. “He is one of those people that once you meet him you’ll never forget him. He left a legacy at Albany State but he was more than a coach, he was a builder of men. He was a hard-nosed football coach who constantly pushed and challenged his players daily, not only did he mold his players to become winners on the field but molded them to become winners in life. If you could endure his daily training regiments you could endure life’s obstacles,” Chunn continued.

Smith spent six years with the ASU program before leaving to become an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for a year and then joined Mississippi Valley State in 1979. He came back to Albany as an assistant in 1980 and became the head coach again in 1982.

He earned his “legendary” status in the following years by coaching the Albany State program for 17 years as the Golden Rans won nine SIAC championships including a three-year run from 1984-86 and a five-year run from 1993-1997. His teams earned a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs five times and advanced to the quarterfinals in 1997.

“Coach Smith will truly be missed,” Chunn said.,” but his legacy will live on not only at Albany State but in all of Dougherty County and the SIAC family where he received numerous awards and accolades. I am very honored the Dougherty County School System will continue his legacy by hosting the first football game of each season in his honor as the Hampton Smith Classic. This is something I wanted to accomplish for years and I thank Dougherty’s principal, Mr. Jerry Sanders and Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Ken Dyer for working with me to make this happen.”

Albany State UniversityJoeWhitfield[email protected]