Hall of Fame
In 2004, at a low point in Comet basketball history, Craig Smith, an assistant coach under Tim Miles in 1996-97, returned to Cometville to take the wheel as head coach. His “do it the right way” approach to players and playing led to unprecedented Comet success: back-to-back-to-back trips to the NAIA D II equivalent of the “Big Dance.” Each of his teams set records and the success of one was a foundation for success for subsequent teams. Not only the DAC, but the whole NAIA began paying attention to the team from Mayville. The culmination of this year-by-year team-building was that the 2006-07 Comets became the only North Dakota men’s basketball team ever to play in a national championship game. Over Smith’s three-year tenure, the Comet faithful saw numerous outstanding players make or break individual records. Moreover, the camaraderie between Comet players, families, coaches, and fans was such that a special bond was created. The “Smith era” was a magical time in MSU athletic history and has become a treasured chapter in Comet legend.
