Greene Wins Rotary Smith Award |
Khalil Greene, the NCAA's all-time leader in doubles, was named the winner of the 2002 Rotary Smith Award Monday. The announcement was made at the conclusion of the Award's annual dinner, held this year at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Houston, TX.
Greene was selected in a national vote of the nation's college baseball publicists over a pair of sophomore pitchers, Justin Simmons of Texas and Brad Sullivan of Houston. The Key West, FL native joins with 1996 winner Kris Benson to make Clemson the first school to produce multiple winners of the award. In the first 14 years the honor was awarded, 14 different schools produced a winner. Greene set numerous Tiger and ACC records in his senior season at Clemson. He lead Clemson to a third-place finish in the College World Series by hitting .470 with a school-record 27 homers and 91 RBIs. He also had a 34-game hitting streak down the stretch. The Tigers' everyday shortstop became just the second NCAA player to collect 400 hits, as he finished with 403, and broke the NCAA career doubles' record with his 95th against South Carolina on June 21. He also started 269 consecutive games at Clemson. Greene, who has won every National Player-of-the-Year award to date, was the 13th overall pick of the 2002 Major League Draft (by the Padres) and became the 10th Smith winner in the last 11 seasons to be taken in the first round of the draft. Completing its 15th year, the Rotary Smith Award is awarded each summer to the nation's top college baseball player. The award, a national project of the Rotary Club of Houston, raises money for Rotary charities, Texas Children's Hospital, and the Karl Young League. Jack Leggett on Vanderbilt's Hiring of Tim Corbin "Tim Corbin has been a huge part of our success for the past nine years. He has been a hard working and loyal assistant. He has had such a positive effect on our program in terms of recruiting, on the field coaching, every phase of the program. He will be sorely missed by our coaching staff and our players. He really had a positive impact on our players the last nine years. "Vanderbilt has made a tremendous choice. He will do a great job there. If anyone can bring Vanderbilt a winner it is Tim Corbin. It is a great opportunity for him and a great hire for Vanderbilt." Note: Clemson finished #3 in each of the three polls. Clemson's highest final ranking prior to 2002 was a #4 ranking following the 1991, 1994, and 1996 seasons. This is Clemson's best finish in terms of final polls in its baseball history.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
