15 Facts About Lyle Smith

Lyle Hilton Smith was an American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator.

Boise was a junior college program during Lyle Smith's coaching career; it moved up to four-year status in the NAIA in 1968, NCAA Division II in 1970, Division I-AA in 1978, and Division I-A in 1996.

Lyle Smith received a bachelor's degree in education in 1939 and embarked on a teaching career.

Lyle Smith taught and coached for a year at Firth High School in southeastern Idaho, then married fellow 1939 UI graduate Maria Raphael of Weiser in 1940 and returned to Moscow to work in private employment in auto sales.

Lyle Smith became head coach at Moscow High School in the spring when Babe Brown crossed town to coach the Vandal freshmen.

Lyle Smith entered the US Navy in June 1942 during World War II.

Lyle Smith served primarily as a physical training instructor, and returned to Moscow and completed his master's degree in education in 1946.

Lyle Smith returned in 1952 and was a leading candidate for the vacant job at his alma mater Idaho in 1954, but withdrew his name from consideration, content at Boise.

Lyle Smith stepped down as head coach and became the school's first full-time athletic director in November 1967; the Broncos began competition as a four-year school in 1968.

Lyle Smith hired former Vandal teammate Tony Knap as head coach in December, and Knap's successor Jim Criner in 1976.

Lyle Smith continued as head baseball coach through the 1973 season, then was succeeded by Ross Vaughn, a Ph.

Lyle Smith retired at age 65 in July 1981, succeeded by Mike Mullally of Cal State-Fullerton.

Lyle Smith was replaced in March 1982 by assistant Gene Bleymaier, who stayed for nearly three decades.

Lyle Smith was a key advisor during Bleymaier's first years as director.

Lyle Smith turned 100 in March 2016, and died in July 2017 at age 101.