ODU Inducts 3 Panthers into Athletic Hall of Fame

May 7 , 2002

Ohio Dominican University proudly inducted three new members into the 90-year-old Catholic college's Athletic Hall of Fame. Former Panthers Lance Baker (Class of 1991), Paul "Jake" McLoughlin ('72), and Dennis Smith ('69) formed the fourth class of inductees since the Hall of Fame began in the 1996-97 school year.

Long-time friend and former teammate Dan Straub (left) presents Dennis Smith his induction plaque.

The men were inducted on May 5 at the annual Ohio Dominican athletic banquet. Family and friends as well as current Ohio Dominican athletes were on hand for the occasion.

Denny Smith was honored as a leader of the first Ohio Dominican University men's basketball team, providing competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the new program. When Smith graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in elementary education, the college retired his jersey number 31 as a gesture of respect and gratitude to the pioneering Panther.

Smith has remained close to the college over the years by serving on committees and advisory boards. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1981 (the first to be honored with this distinction) and is a past member and President of the ODU Alumni Board. Smith has served his country in the military and his community in important civic capacities. Currently, he is the global sales director for SBC Global Markets and is a certified sales instructor. He lives in Grandview with his wife Carol and has grown twin daughters, Jennifer Snyder and Elaine Vukadinovich.

Paul McLoughlin’s former coach Gene Nangle (left) presents Paul’s widow, Shirley Coakley, his induction plaque.

As a sophomore at Ohio Dominican University, Paul McLoughlin shot 47 percent from the field and averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. The three-year letterman also finished his rookie season making 84 percent of his free-throws. During the 1970-71 season, he tallied 14 points per game and again led the team in free throw shooting and total assists. A fearless competitor, McLoughlin helped lead the Ohio Dominican basketball team to their first District 22 championship and NAIA National appearance in 1970-71.

A complete player, McLoughlin was able to get the job done in more ways then one and make everyone around him better. He finished his basketball career at ODU averaging 15.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. McLoughlin's totals of 1,084 points and 340 rebounds currently rank him eighth and ninth, respectively, in the program's record books.

Paul McLoughlin was a leader, a team player, and a coach on the floor as a point guard. He fueled the Panthers' success in his three-year career from 1969-72 at ODU. In the 1970-71 season, McLoughlin led the team in free throw percentage at 93.2 percent, and was awarded the team assist award. The following season he was listed in the NAIA national statistics as one of the top ten free throw shooters in the nation.

McLoughlin received his B.S. in elementary education from Ohio Dominican in 1972. He continued to stay involved with basketball serving as an assistant coach at West Muskingum High School and later as an eighth grade coach. Jake married his high school sweetheart, Shirley, and raised two children, Wendy and Paul, Jr. Wendy is married and raising two children and Paul is a career counselor at Harvard University. In 1994, Paul died after a courageous battle with a brain tumor.

Long-time friend and former teammate Don West (left) presents Lance Baker with the plaque that will be hung in the Ohio Dominican University Athletic Hall of Fame to honor Baker's achievements.

To this day, no one in Panther baseball has been able to match Lance Baker's career totals in triples (24), and stolen bases (132). During his career, Baker led the team in at bats, runs, batting average, triples, RBIs, and stolen bases. A four-year starter in the outfield, Baker earned a number of conference and area accolades. He was named to the NAIA All District 22 team and was included in the All MOC team three straight years, earning Player of the Year in 1989. He received the NAIA All American Honorable Mention that same year.

Up until last year, when Kyle Mackie rewrote the record books, Baker held the career mark for hits (260) and singles (180). Baker is also tied for the most at bats (7) and runs scored (5) in a game and singles in a season with 57. Following his graduation in 1991, he held 19 individual baseball records at Ohio Dominican.

A member of Head Coach Paul Page's first Ohio Dominican team, Baker helped establish the Panther baseball program as an area powerhouse. Baker was a member Page's first regular season conference championship and tournament championship team in 1990. A career .408 hitter, Baker ranks in the top 10 of all time in a number of Ohio Dominican baseball categories.

Baker received his B.A. in art from Ohio Dominican in 1991 and is currently a sales representative for Dura Floors. He and his wife Jennifer reside in Kettering with their son Brandon and daughter Lauren.