ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Dallis Smith is now the winningest basketball coach in Westover High School history, surpassing Coach Willie Boston — the man Smith describes as his father figure.

The milestone is the product of a life shaped by the South side of Albany, where Smith grew up with 13 people in a one-bedroom apartment.

Smith said he had little connection to Westover growing up.

“Didn’t know where Westover was at because I never went to the mall,” Smith said. “I think my ninth-grade year I remember going to the mall once and mom pointed out and said that’s Westover and I was like wow.”

That changed when Boston reached out to Smith’s mother. Smith and his twin brother, Dennis, became the first in their family to attend Westover.

“Coach Willie Boston, if it wasn’t for him there would not be a coach Dallis Smith,” Smith said.

Football, college and the NFL

Smith’s early years at Westover centered on football. He was part of the teams that brought the Patriots their first and only back-to-back region titles.

“Well, we changed the culture,” Smith said.

Smith went on to play college football at Valdosta State, where he set multiple records. He later received an invitation to a combine camp in Indianapolis — a first for a Valdosta State player — before the Seattle Seahawks called.

“A little Georgia boy going somewhere it was different,” Smith said. “Matter of fact, first time being on a plane — going to combine camp in Indianapolis. I think I was the first one from Valdosta State to be invited to combine camp.”

Coming home to coach basketball

After his time in the NFL, Smith returned to Albany with a different goal in mind.

“I wanted to help my mom. So that’s the reason I came back to Albany and started coaching,” Smith said. “Then got a chance to start coaching with Coach B and everything else is history.”

When asked how it feels to surpass Boston in wins, Smith redirected the focus.

“I’m not a me guy. I’m all about trying to advance the kids, raise them to be young men, to be productive in today’s society,” Smith said. “So I kind of stepped back the other day and looked like wow — I did some things right.”

Smith said his mother, who has since passed, was a constant source of strength throughout his life.

“Matter of fact, I’m about to tear up just thinking about her,” Smith said. “Just the other day I was thinking of how proud she would be of me today.”

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