Five minutes with her and you’ll feel kindness and compassion, traits she claims were cultivated at Lipscomb. Whatever the source, Rhonda Bingham is a Godly mother and wife who casts a great reflection on Lipscomb, Pi Delta and Lady Bison Basketball. She shared her thoughts and memories in a conversation this week with lipscombsports.com. 

What years did you compete for Lipscomb? 

I played basketball for three years, from 1978-80. I played two years for Coach Trish Duty and one year for Coach Charles Beavers. I broke my leg with five minutes left in a January practice my junior year, and it essentially ended my career. Coach (Frank) Bennett began the next year, and I’ve always regretted missing the chance to play for him. 

There was an upside, however. My club, Pi Delta, won the flag football championship and I got to be a part of it. God has been so faithful to me – I love basketball, but I found life is made of so much more than just basketball. 

What teammate was most memorable? 

I admired my teammates in the class ahead of me because they played an extramural schedule that laid the groundwork for the first official Lipscomb women’s team my freshman year. I especially appreciated Julie Kinser, Karen Wallace, and others who played before I came to Lipscomb. I also admired Connie Bentley, who was another of my favorites who worked while playing basketball. I loved all my teammates.

Perhaps this is the best time to say, I thought Lipscomb was amazing – I still do. I’m so grateful I got to come to a Christian university. I may have come primarily for basketball, but my favorite things became Bible and Chapel. They, along with my high school experience at Goodpasture, helped prepare me for teaching youth at church, which has been my calling for more than 30 years now. 

Tell us about your education. 

I earned my B.S. in Accounting in 1981, and I went on to become a C.P.A. 

Why did you attend Lipscomb? 

The short answer is I came because of basketball and the Christian influence. But there’s more. 

I had a list of schools of interest, but there was just something special about Lipscomb to me. I came in the years that Willard Collins was the face of the school, and it was a truly unique and engaging atmosphere. Steve Flatt continued that great tradition. I always felt so completely safe on campus, and I’m so glad I came to a place that allowed my parents to watch me play. 

What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb? 

I remember playing at Vanderbilt, and the 30-second shot clock was running down when the ball ended up in my hands. I’d love to say I shot it, but in truth I hooked it from the left side about a step in from half court, and it miraculously banked in. I turned and saw our crowd jumping and screaming like we had won a national championship. We lost the game, but the mental picture of that shot and the crowd’s reaction stuck with me. 

Along with that memory, I have great thoughts of the unselfish nature of our team. Partly because of good leadership, partly due to the fact that women’s basketball was new on campus, partly because we had a chip on our shoulders because we didn’t feel we got the acknowledgement men’s basketball did, and partly because we really wanted to be there and play – we all felt so privileged to be involved. 

The hardest, most pressure-packed free throws I ever shot took place in a game in McQuiddy Gym. All 80 of our fans were on our side, and Chuck (Ross) was sitting alone on the other side. I was shooting on the north goal, so Chuck was on my left – I remember it clearly – and as I stepped up to the line, all I could hear was Chuck: “Rhonda Bingham’s gonna make it. Rhonda Bingham’s gonna make it.” Thank goodness, I made them both, but those were two of the toughest free throws in my career. 

Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb? 

Coach (Trish) Duty is at the top of my list. Coach (Ken) Dugan gave her the opportunity to start that first team, and although I’m sure she wasn’t compensated nearly enough for the effort she invested, she blazed a trail for us. Her jobs at that time were teaching, tennis, and badminton. I really admire the courage she showed in beginning a brand-new sport and the way she inspired our team in a common goal. She had the sweetest, most genuine smile, but she could definitely show that feisty side when she didn’t think we were giving a full effort. She was a joy, and she was taken way too soon. 

I also appreciate Coach Dugan, ‘Fessor (Eugene) Boyce, Coach (Don) Meyer and others who established such a solid legacy for Lipscomb Athletics. These four individuals built the foundation that today’s Lipscomb athletes stand on – one that encourages playing right, living right, and sharing God’s love in competition, on campus, and in the mission field. 

What’s your favorite non-athletic memory from your time here? 

Nobody told me – as a basketball team member – not to pledge a social club, so when winter quarter came around and rush took place, I found I really enjoyed the girls in Pi Delta. The challenge came when closed rush fell on the same night as one of our games. I wrote a long note to the club, apologizing in advance for missing closed rush and hoping I would still be considered for membership … but knowing I probably wouldn’t. When the night arrived, it brought with it a snowstorm that – for the one time in my college career – cancelled our game and allowed me to attend the rush. Perhaps it was divine intervention. On bid night, I was in bed when our team’s rooms were checked, but I may have gotten up a few hours later to receive my bid for Pi Delta and to do my pledge duties. My parents wouldn’t have liked me playing, studying and pledging all in my second quarter of college, so I just didn’t tell them. The truth is, I didn’t tell anybody – my parents, my coaches, my teammates, nobody. In those days we pledged for three weeks, and my mom finally found out with two days left when I asked her to take me to the fabric store so I could make craft gifts for my actives. Coach Duty called me into her office about the same day because she had heard I was pledging. It was a scary moment, but it all worked out well and laid the foundation for teammates to also participate in the club system. My Pi Delta sisters became some of my best friends. 

I love Lipscomb because it was so much more than a great basketball experience. I loved my team, Pi Delta, Bible class, chapel, intramural sports, and so much more. I know there is bad to be found anywhere, but there is so much good on the campus that it was a wonderful experience for me.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb? 

I saw such examples of kindness from my professors. I think about Dr. Axel Swang, Mrs. (Dot) Eubanks, Dr. (Jim) Arnett, Dr. (Charles) McVey, ‘Fessor Boyce, and others who showed true concern for students. It motivates me to this day to show that type of caring for the people around me and to be an encourager. 

I also learned a lot about discipline. In the early days, gym time was at a premium so our team practiced at 6:00 in the morning. When faced with that option, you either get better or you quit. Thankfully those on our team drew together and worked to get better. 

We also learned the value of fundamentals. Lipscomb Basketball – both in high school and college, men and women – was known for solid, fundamental execution. Our team bought in to the system. After freshman year, we practiced for two hours and shot 100 free throws at the end of practice. We then ran laps for the number of free throws we missed (up to five miles), and we got better because we became fundamentally sound.

Who were your favorite professors?

‘Fessor Boyce was my hands-down favorite – I loved him in the classroom and around the Athletics Department. I was blessed because when he suffered his stroke I got to visit and meet his precious wife, Mildred. We were good friends until they both passed away. I loved time with ‘Fessor. He taught me golf and tennis, he was the first to gripe with me when I didn’t play well, and he was to first to congratulate me when I won awards. I even sat with him in Chapel. When he passed away I felt like I lost my grandfather. 

I also enjoyed Dr. (Axel) Swang, who was my major professor and a huge sports fan on campus. He had an incredible way of connecting with students, and he especially loved student-athletes. The first day of his Accounting class, I sat on the front row and answered a question. He stopped class and practically screamed, “Now, class, if a dumb basketball player can answer a question right, so can you!” He was a great motivator, and we all knew how much he cared for us – both as students and as student-athletes. 

What do you do now? 

For several years I worked as a C.P.A. at a public firm, and then as CFO of a private company. A partner and I then bought a child-care/elder-care company in which we placed caregivers with those who needed them. We sold that company, and I stayed on as president for three years. 

I also served as a volunteer basketball coach at St. Edward for 21 years. When I first began coaching I modeled my style after Paul (Bear) Bryant because I was a huge Alabama football fan. By using his locker room speeches, I somehow convinced my first group of girls – who could barely dribble and run at the same time at the beginning – that they could win a championship … and they did. Now I help coach my son’s team and I enjoy being at home with my boys. 

Tell us about your family: 

My husband, Guice Smith, is an executive recruiter with his own firm, Guice Smith and Associates and I stay home with our boys – Guice, IV (20) and Bing (9) Smith. 

FAST FINISH: 

• Favorite food: Cucumbers
• Favorite TV show: Blue Bloods
• Favorite scripture #1: John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Favorite scripture #2: Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Favorite sports team: University of Alabama Crimson Tide football
• Pet peeve: Gossip
• Persons I most admire: My mom and dad – their word was always their bond. My mother was a former professional basketball player who never tried to coach me, and I’ve always admired that. My mother turns 94 this month and is very sharp. She still watches every Duke basketball game.
• Favorite season: Fall
• Pick one: salad or dessert – Salad, by far.
• Dream vacation spot: Turks and Caicos or anyplace with white sandy beaches
• Early morning or late night person? Late night 

Contact Rhonda by email (wgsmith@comcast.net) by phone (615-498-1940) or connect on Facebook (Rhonda Bingham) and Instagram (@bingham8123).