Plattsburgh State Athletics

One of the most important figures in the era of head coach Tom Curle, Curtis Smith impacted the program first as a standout student-athlete before remaining a steadfast supporter of Cardinal men’s basketball after graduation. 

Curtis ranks sixth in program history in career steals (191), and he was a D3hoops.com Second-Team All-East Region selection in 2003-04. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native earned a pair of Second-Team All-SUNYAC honors in 2003-04 and 2004-05, respectively, and he was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team in 2003-04 after averaging 14.5 points per game during the tournament. 

Curtis netted 800 points during his two years in a Cardinal uniform.


Date of Induction into Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame:
October 12, 2018

Where is he now: 

Curtis currently works for the Department of Education as a parent coordinator after having served as a substitute teacher. He is currently in his fifth year working at P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early High School). Curtis is also an assistant coach for the junior varsity team and is a varsity basketball coach.

He has his own team outside of school for summer basketball. It all started in a charity event with a former player, head coach Jerrad Dumont of North Country Community College. They played as alumni from Plattsburgh State in this event, and so many people thought Curtis should take it further, so now he has his own summer team in the city. 

Curtis is also the co-founder of the Scholars Hoops program, which has traveled from Brooklyn to Middletown, N.Y., thanks to amazing work of another alumnus, Anthony Williams. He states that both programs “give life to the sport you play,” and it helps people understand that life is more than basketball. Sports can help build character and assist with academics at the next level, according to Curtis. 

He currently lives in Manhattan and has three children: Jeremiah (17), Gabr-Ella (8) and Carrington (2). Curtis says that seeing his children excel in the classroom, on the dance floor and on the court are his biggest personal accomplishments.

Favorite Plattsburgh State Sports Moment: 

“Coach Curle coming to visit me at JCC, as John and him had to rush to Plattsburgh for his press conference, and receiving that phone call from Coach Curle as I was with my son to say, ‘Curt, you’re getting inducted to Hall of Fame.’”