State Championship winning coach and CSRA icon Otis Smart passes away

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One of the CSRA’s longest-tenured and most accomplished high school girls basketball coaches has died.

Sunday evening, Lucy C. Laney High School released the following statement:

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Coach Smart. He has been a staple on the Blvd for years and will be remembered for generations to come. Our prayers are with his family, athletic community, students, and staff that have had the privilege of having had a connection to this great man over the years. We will post any updates as they are received regarding any services and remembrances that are shared with us.”

Smart spent more than four decades leading the Wildcats, building one of the most successful programs in Georgia high school basketball history.

Smart’s coaching career spanned more than 40 years at Laney, where he won multiple state championships and amassed more than 1,000 career victories.

Earlier this year, he became one of the few high school basketball coaches in Georgia to reach the 1,000-win milestone, a feat that reflected not only his longevity but also the sustained excellence of his program.

His success extended far beyond the win column. Throughout his career, Smart helped develop generations of student-athletes, many of whom credited him with teaching life lessons that extended well beyond basketball. Former players frequently described him as a mentor, role model and father figure whose impact reached classrooms, families and the Augusta community.

Back in February, News 12/26 spoke with several of Smart’s former players following his 1,000th career victory. Not one of them had anything negative to say about the coach who helped shape their lives.

“He is the face of women’s high school basketball in my eyes, and an incredible man and coach,” former Laney standout Destiny Brewton told News 12/26 in February. “His long-standing dedication and remarkable success over the years have left an indelible mark on the school and the community.”

Former player Morgan Lee said Smart taught his teams to value each other as family.

“He taught us how to work as a family. He taught us how to come together as one and treat each other with respect,” Lee said.

His influence also stretched across generations. Trina Lee, a 1984 Laney graduate and Morgan’s mother, marveled that Smart was still leading the Wildcats more than four decades after coaching her.

When News 12/26 last spoke with Smart about his milestone, he downplayed the significance of the number itself. Although his 1,000th official victory came via a forfeit, Smart chose to personally recognize the team’s win over Glenn Hills as the moment he truly reached the milestone, a reflection of the competitive spirit that defined his career.

For decades, Smart became synonymous with Laney girls basketball, transforming the Wildcats into a perennial state contender while earning the respect of opponents, coaches and former players throughout Georgia.

His legacy will be measured not only by championships and victories, but by the countless young women whose lives he helped shape.

Richmond County Schools released a statement his passing as well:

“Coach Smart was basketball coach, mentor, a guiding light, and a cornerstone of our community. For decades, Coach Smart didn’t just win games; he shaped futures. Coach Smart didn’t just represent Laney High School; he embodied it. Today, we don’t just mourn the loss of a coach; we say goodbye to “Mr. Laney” Coach Smart, thank you for showing us all what it truly means to be a champion in life. You will never be forgotten.”