Tubby Smith to speak at Iba Awards

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith will be the keynote speaker at next month's Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards Banquet. <br><br>The Rotary Club of Tulsa, which presents the

Wednesday, April 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith will be the keynote speaker at next month's Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards Banquet.

The Rotary Club of Tulsa, which presents the awards given to male and female athletes who excel on the field and help others in their personal lives, will make the announcement Wednesday, the Tulsa World reported.

Smith will speak during a May 20 ceremony in downtown Tulsa where Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and figure skater Nancy Kerrigan will be honored.

ESPN Sportscenter anchor Bob Stevens will be master of ceremonies.

``Tulsa has always had a special place in my heart,'' said Smith, who coached the Tulsa Golden Hurricane from 1991-1995. ``My wife, Donna, and I have always felt like Tulsa was home and to be asked to be the keynote speaker at this Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards Banquet is a real privilege and a real honor.''

Smith, who led Kentucky to a national championship in 1998, is the first college basketball coach to speak at the awards since Duke's Mike Krzyzewski in 1994, the awards' inaugural banquet.

The awards are named after the legendary former Oklahoma State University basketball coach.