Richard “Smiley” Hinton has proven in his first year coaching at Loyola that with hard work, big dreams and a big smile, anything’s possible.
While this may be Hinton’s first year as an assistant coach of the Wolfpack Men’s Basketball team, it isn’t the first coaching job for the experienced 33-year-old.
Hinton, a Merryville, La. native, graduated from Louisiana State University in 2000 with a degree in kinesiology concentrating in sports studies. At Hill College and Southern University, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
In addition, Hinton was a team manager for the LSU Tigers men’s team and a member of the LSU women’s practice team. Many collegiate women’s teams practice against men’s scrimmage teams. and an assistant coach at Shores Christian Academy (HS) in Ocala, Florida.
As an assistant coach at Shores Christian Academy (HS) in Ocala, Fla., Hinton had what he describes as his most memorable basketball moment.
“I met Steve Smith, coach of Oak Hill Academy (one of the most competitive prep basketball schools in the U.S.),” Hinton said. “He had college jerseys from every player he coached hanging up in his office. There were so many,” Hinton said.
Hinton, who played basketball since middle school, says he has always loved basketball, but he wasn’t sure of its impact on his life once he went to college.
“I played in high school (but) I didn’t grow until sophomore year of college … I gave up (playing basketball because) I was 5’8 Hinton said.
All of that changed once he went to LSU. While playing pickup basketball, Hinton was asked to scrimmage against one of the best women’s teams in the NCAA’s Division I: the LSU Lady Tigers.
“I fell in love with it (basketball) again,” Hinton said.
As Hinton reunited with basketball, he also decided to make some other changes in his life.
“I was a marine biology major,” Hinton said.
After sitting in a boring three-hour lecture class, Hinton decided marine biology was not for him. He knew exactly what he wanted to do: coach basketball.
“I just thought about it…I loved college basketball (and) it happened quick,” Hinton said.
While Hinton knew he wanted to coach, he initially had difficulty learning how to do it.
“The counselors (at LSU) couldn’t really help me, they put me in education classes (but) I didn’t want to teach,” he said.
Hinton believes the guidance he received from coaches at LSU helped to shape him into the coach he is today.
“I met a lot of good people that helped me out at LSU,” he said.
One of those people was Dr. Michael Giorlando, LSU’s assistant basketball coach and director of basketball operations . Giorlando, now the athletic director and head coach of the Loyola men’s basketball team, offered Hinton an assistant coaching job which eventually led him to Loyola.
Hinton, also known as “Smiley,” said he got the nickname in high school.
“We had some class clowns and I was (always) laughing (at them),” Hinton said. “I’m always up beat; I try not to let stuff get me down. Definitely in coaching I don’t yell that much … sometimes coaches yell and players don’t hear what they’re saying; Mostly I want to convey a message.”
That message seems to be working as the team is 7-3 in conference play and has compiled an overall record of 15-7, which is good for second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
Hinton attributes much of the team’s success this season to their defense.
“We deny (the ball with our) man to man defense. We’ve been playing aggressive man to man. When we’re aggressive like we want to be we can get easy shots on the other end,” he said.
While many of Hinton’s friends say he’s “living the dream,” he wants to do everything he can to become a better coach.
“This could be my highest level. I hope not,” Hinton said.
Kimble Wright can be reached at [email protected].
