Anaconda Smith (Balloon Ball)

Anaconda Smith is the current head men's balloon ball coach at the University of Miami.

## Life

Anaconda Smith was born on July 18, 1965 in Cincinnati, Ohio to a Johnson Smith and Lady White Smith. Smith excelled at both football and balloon ball at a young age. Smith attended high school at Aiken High School. An injury suffered during his senior year put an end to Smith's hopes of playing college football, resulting in him changing his focus to balloon ball. Smith would walk on to Ohio State's balloon ball team, but would eventually earn a starting position and a scholarship in his Junior year. In his senior year, Anaconda would explode onto the national stage, winning national player of the year, and leading his team to the National Championship. Upon graduation, Smith would be drafted second overall in the PBBL draft to the New York Cosmopolitan. Smith would play for the Cosmopolitan until 1992. In the 1990 season, Smith would lead the team to a PBBL title, and would win league MVP. Smith would explain that his reason for retiring from the league early was so he could pursue a career in coaching and spend more time with family. Smith would become the assistant Offensive Coach for the Cosmopolitan upon retiring. In 1993, Smith would be promoted to offensive coach. After re-building the once struggling Cosmopolitan Offense into the best in the PBBL, Smith would be hired by the LSU Tigers as the school's next men's balloon ball coach before the start of the 1996 season. Smith would quickly build the Tigers into one of the best programs in the nation, alongside hall of fame assistant coach Carter Crowder. In 2000, Smith would lead LSU to the national title game. He would lead them to the final four in 2001 and 2002 respectively. After leading LSU to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2003, Smith would leave to take the head coaching job of the PBBL's Rocky Mountain Wolves. Coach Smith would blow away experts by leading his team to the PBBL championship in 2006 after barely qualifying for the playoffs. After returning to the championship game in 2007, the Wolves would quickly fall from grace after the retirement of star players John Alcopolpo and Drew Van Halen. In 2011, Smith would be fired from the organization after the Wolves started the season 2-18. Upon his firing, Smith would be hired by the University of Miami to become their next head coach. After some minor struggles initially, Smith would manage to lead his time on a cinderella run to the Elite 8 in 2014. In 2016, Miami would finish in the top 15, but would be eliminated in the first round. In 2017, the team would finish the season at #11, and would make it to the Sweet 16. In 2018, the team would finish the season at #2, and would once again make it to the Sweet 16. 2019 would see the Hurricanes face a few setbacks, but they would quickly rebound in 2020. They would finish the 2020 season at #9, but would once again lose in the first round of the tournament.

 1993-1995
 1996-2003
 2004-2011
 2012-pres

Anaconda Smith is married to Daniella Smith, who currently works as an interior designer in the Miami area. They have been married since 1999. Anaconda has had 2 children with Daniella: Anaconda Jr. (Born in 2000), and JaDaveon (Born in 2005). Smith was previously married to Cinnamon Jarred from 1985 to 1996. The couple had 3 children together during their marriage: Jannet (Born in 1987), Clarise (Born in 1989), and June (Born in 1995).

Jannet Smith is currently the head woman's balloon ball coach at Jamaica High School in Queens' Jamaica neighborhood. She also is employed as a teacher there. Clarise Smith is currently the Senior Associate Dean of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. June is currently an assistant woman's balloon ball coach at Monmouth University. Anaconda Jr. currently plays balloon ball under his father at the University of Miami. JaDaveon currently attends school at Fort Lauderdale's IMG Academy, where is part of the school's elite football team. The Smith family currently resides in Fort Lauderdale's Seven Isles neighborhood. The family also owns a luxury apartment in the Yorkville Neighborhood of Manhattan's affluent Upper Eastside.