ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Tuesday that Navy will name its basketball court at Alumni Hall after Dave Smalley, who has been associated with the Academy as a player, coach, physical education professor and administrator for more than 50 years. The official dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, when the Navy men's and women's teams play host to Patriot League rival Bucknell. That weekend will also feature a banquet honoring the 1985-86 Navy men's basketball team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and the annual Alumni Game.

"Dave is one of the finest gentlemen and accomplished professionals ever to serve our midshipmen," said Gladchuk. "He is respected, appreciated and loved by the thousands who have been fortunate to benefit from his friendship. He represents the qualities and values of the Naval Academy and approaches every day in the spirit of service to others before self. Those who know Dave understand why this tribute is appropriate. Certainly it will be a constant reminder of Dave's stellar legacy of support to the Brigade, but more importantly for the man who has always been a beacon of inspiration on the Yard, and exemplifies the standards for commitment to his alma mater and excellence as a leader."

"I'm most appreciative of this signal honor in recognition of the contributions of the Navy basketball players over the years," said Smalley, who has been inducted into four Hall of Fames - Seton Hall Prep (high school), Wyoming Seminary (prep school), Naval Academy and Anne Arundel County. "I feel this honor validates the many basketball players and their coaches who have been a part of the Navy basketball program and its tradition. It recognizes the hundreds of Midshipmen who played and continue to play the game for countless hours with all their energy and ability. Some earned more accolades than others, but all were instrumental in the ultimate goal of winning games for the Naval Academy. I see this dedication as recognition to what they have given the Academy."

A 1957 graduate of the Naval Academy, Smalley won a combined six letters in basketball and baseball, while earning four N-Stars against arch rival Army. He is one of only four midshipmen in the 99-year history of Navy men's basketball to serve as team captain for two-consecutive years. He was the Mids' top scorer during his sophomore and senior campaigns, while leading the team in free throw percentage as a junior and senior. He was also selected to play in the East-West All-Star Game in Kansas City his senior year.

Smalley scored 856 points during his three-year varsity career and twice won the Charles Evans McDonough Memorial Basketball Cup, awarded annually "to the member of the basketball squad deemed to have been the outstanding team player during the season."

Smalley was also a standout outfielder for the Navy baseball team. He won the Blair Bat, symbolic of the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League batting title, during his junior season with a league average of .419. He also led the league in RBIs with 12. In overall games that season, he led the squad in hits (30), homers (3), RBIs (25) and batting average (.448).

Smalley won the Naval Academy Athletic Association Sword in 1957 as the midshipman of the graduating class who was considered "to have personally excelled in athletics during his years of varsity competition."

A native of Baltimore, Md., Smalley served five years in the United States Marine Corps, where he was named to the All-Marine Basketball Team four years.

In 1962, Smalley returned to the Academy as an assistant coach with the men's basketball team and as a member of the Physical Education Department. In 1966, Smalley succeeded Ben Carnevale as head coach of the Navy basketball team. Under his 10-year direction, Navy produced a 94-130 record and his Midshipmen teams were ranked among the top 10 in the country in team defense in three of his last six seasons.

In 1976, Smalley left his post as the men's coach and later that year was asked to lay the groundwork for a women's basketball program. His first season leading the women, competing at the junior varsity level, he led the Mids to a 10-1 record and won the Maryland AIAW state championship for small colleges. The program achieved varsity status in 1977, and he guided the Midshipmen to a 12-year combined record of 179-119 that featured 10 winning seasons. Smalley's teams recorded back-to-back 18-win seasons in 1981-82 and 1982-83, and the 1986-87 team finished 18-8 and captured the ECAC South Division II Championship.

Smalley held the title of Assistant Director of Athletics in charge of admissions since 1979 and was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Admissions, Academics and Compliance in 2001. In that capacity, Smalley handles the admissions process for recruited athletes in each of Navy's 30 varsity sports. Smalley and his staff also monitor the academic progress of Navy's 1500 student-athletes.

G-o N-a-v-y