Dennis Smith

Head Coach

Smith starts his seventh season at the helm of the women’s basketball team. Last year the Lady Peregrines finished 11-19 overall and were sixth in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Smith was an assistant for three seasons (1997-2000), and was a big contributor in the two Purdue Calumet Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference titles (1997-98 and ’98-’99). He is 83-107 (.436) overall in six seasons as the head coach.

Smith’s 30-plus years of coaching expertise includes both the collegiate and high school levels. His coaching resume consists of baseball and basketball at Rosary College, River Forest, Ill., from 1994-97; football and basketball at St. Rita High School, Chicago, from 1991-94; football and basketball at Mt. Carmel High School, Chicago from 1989-91; football, baseball and basketball at T.F. North High School, Calumet City, Ill., from 1977-89; and a stint coaching track and field at the former Thornton Community College, now South Suburban College, in 1972.

Smith and his wife, Jeri, have been married for 34 years and have two sons, Daniel and Philip, and three grandchildren, Vanessa, 6, Amanda, 3, and Bradley, 1. Smith serves as a Counsel of the Chicago Board of Education since 1974. He has a master’s and bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University, and is a Vietnam veteran as a sergeant of the United States Marine Corp.    

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