Star player now a star coach

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - He's UConn's all-time leading scorer, but to his players, Chris Smith is just coach.

Kolbe Cathedrial's senior forward Cosrick McDonald "didn't know anything about Chris Smith," prior to the 2009 season.

Neither had DJ Perry, the team's starting point guard; "Nah, I never heard of him."

"They have to ask their parents 'Who's Chris Smith,'" Smith joked.

But the older crowd knows Smith's legacy.

An original building block in Jim Calhoun's plan, Smith's 2,145 career points are still the best in UConn history.

"Everywhere I go people remember that I stayed home, I played for UConn and helped them get where they are today," he said.

Smith has evolved since his final points in Storrs.

Unfortunately an NBA and European playing career were derailed by injuries and lockouts, but a few years ago he returned to where it all began: Kolbe Cathedral High in Bridgeport.

When he finishes his day job as a probation officer for the state of Connecticut, Smith leads the new era of Cougars as the school's head coach.

"To come back home to Kolbe Cathedral, to the school I went to is a dream come true," Smith said.

"He teaches things we don't know that are taught on the next level," said Perry. "We perform every night. It's why we are undefeated, we have a great coach and a great system."

In his first two seasons Smith led Kolbe to the state semi-finals. This year the Cougars are 14-0 placing them among the top 10 teams in the state.

"I just let them know you have to go out there everyday, single day and be persistent, work hard and show some passion when playing basketball," Smith said.

Smith won state titles as a player and now his guys are looking for their first championship.

"A lot of these guys are sponges," said Smith. "They want to know how I've gotten there and I try to give them my insight on what I did when I was young. They just want to win a championship."

Educating them sometimes means Smith gets a chance to get back on the court.  

"Sometime he comes out and practices with us. He's still got some moves, he's still pretty quick," joked Perry.

"From where he's been he's played the whole game, you wouldn't want to miss that advise," said McDonald. "You can tell people I've been coached by Chris Smith."

How quickly they learn.