Legendary Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith retires from radio broadcast position
Sonny Smith is stepping away from the broadcast chair.
The legendary former Auburn men's basketball coach announced through Auburn on Wednesday that he is leaving the Auburn radio broadcast team for men's basketball. He had worked as color commentator on the broadcasts since 2012, alongside Andy Burcham on play-by-play.
Smith coached Auburn from 1978 to 1989, coaching some of the best players to ever come through Auburn and taking the program to new heights.
His name hangs in the rafters in Neville Arena. He is part of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, as a native of Roan Mountain, Tenn.
He coached Auburn to an SEC Tournament championship in 1985, the program's first in school history, and led the Tigers to the Elite Eight in 1986.
"After years courtside as both a coach and a broadcaster, it is time to pass the mic and reflect," Smith said in a press release. "That front row seat was more than a job; it was love for the game. As the color commentator, I had the privilege of bringing the game to life, going beyond the stats and scores by adding a little extra color to the game."
He added: "I'll forever be grateful for the time I worked with Jim Fyffe, Rod Bramblett, and Andy Burcham, along with everyone at the Auburn Sports Network. It was a chance to stay close to the sport I love and to share the excitement, passion, and spirit of Auburn Basketball with all of the Auburn Family. I may have turned off my mic for now, but don't worry: I'll still be the loudest person yelling at the refs from the stands, so you haven't heard the last of me yet!"
Randall Dickey, who previously filled in for Smith during the last two seasons, will take over as the full-time analyst for Auburn men's radio broadcasts. Dickey spent over 30 years working and coaching basketball at the collegiate level, including four years at Auburn from 2010-14.
Smith was hired at Auburn after two seasons as head coach at East Tennessee State, and after his Auburn tenure he coached VCU for nine seasons. He earned 339 career wins and won conference Coach of the Year honors at all three schools, twice the SEC Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1988.
He said in a previous interview with the O-A News that he and his family loved Auburn so much they moved back as soon as his active coaching career ended. He was inducted in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. In February 2020, he was inducted in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, saying he will "always remember" the moment Auburn and Burcham suprised him by announcing it during a timeout of a men's basketball game — and the entire arena roared with the students chanting "Son-ny! Son-ny!"
Auburn honored him again by hanging his name in the rafters in January 2022.
Smith will be recognized again for his broadcast career at the Auburn men's basketball game Dec. 8 against Richmond.
"A heartfelt thanks to Andy, Brad Law, and Ben Harling along with Auburn basketball and the entire Auburn Family for allowing me the opportunity to give back to the sport and university I love," Smith said. "I hope you will welcome me back to a front row seat as a forever fan. This is Coach Sonny Smith, signing off...War Eagle!"
