 Smith as Stanford Coach | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1904 Oakland, California[1] |
| Died | September 7, 1986 (aged 82) Foster, California[2] |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Playing career | |
| 1924–1928 | University of Southern California |
| Position(s) | Swimming, water polo |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1929–1931 | Pacific Coast Club Player and coach |
| 1931–1932 | Long Beach City College |
| 1932–1962 | Fullerton Jr. College Fullerton High School |
| 1965–1971 | Stanford University Freshman swimming Asst. varsity swim coach |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| '55 Pan Am Games Silver Medal U.S. Nat. Water Polo Team | |
| Awards | |
| 1971 CSCAA 40-year award Helms Athletic Medal for Water Polo '92 International Swimming Hall of Fame U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame 1985 Peter Uebberoth Award | |
James Roy Smith (1904–September 7, 1986) was a water polo competitor for the University of Southern California from 1928–1932, and a Hall of Fame Water Polo Coach for Fullerton High School and Fullerton Jr. College from around 1932–1962. He coached a total of seven Olympians during his career. Serving on the United States Olympic and National AAU Water Polo Committees, in 1985 he received the Peter Uebberoth Award, America's top honor for achievement in the sport of Water Polo. He developed many of the modern rules which are used in competition today, authored three books on Water Polo, and helped design the yellow rubberized ball adopted by FINA in 1956 which greatly enhanced spectator interest in the sport.[1][3]