You see him every morning on First Take, screaming at the top of his lungs about the Cowboys or the Lakers. He's the highest-paid personality at ESPN. He's a brand. But before the custom suits and the catchphrases like "Stay off the weed," he was just a skinny kid from Queens with a jumper and a dream. If you've ever wondered where did Stephen A. Smith go to college, the answer isn't some massive Big Ten powerhouse or an Ivy League institution.
It was Winston-Salem State University.
That name carries weight. It's a Historically Black University (HBCU) in North Carolina. For Smith, this wasn't just a place to get a degree; it was the forge where his entire persona—and his career—was hammered out. Most people think he just walked onto a set one day and started talking. Not even close.
The Road to Winston-Salem State
Life wasn't always courtside seats and private jets. Stephen Anthony Smith grew up in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens, New York. He was the youngest of six children. Money was tight. Honestly, basketball was his way out, but it wasn't a smooth ride. He initially attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. Yeah, the guy known for his "Bad Day" rants was technically at a fashion school first. He played basketball there, but it wasn't the right fit.
He needed something different.
He eventually landed a scholarship to Winston-Salem State University. This is where the story gets interesting. You have to understand the environment of North Carolina in the late 1980s. It was a hotbed for basketball talent. But more importantly, it was the home of a coaching legend: Clarence "Big House" Gaines.
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Gaines was a titan. He won 828 games over 47 years. He didn't just teach fast breaks; he taught life. Smith often credits Gaines for being a father figure. When Smith suffered a devastating knee injury during his first year, his hoop dreams basically evaporated. He could have packed up and gone back to Queens. Most people would have. Instead, Gaines pushed him toward the school newspaper, The Argus.
How a Knee Injury Created an ESPN Icon
Imagine being a college athlete who can no longer play. It's soul-crushing. Smith had a partial scholarship, and without basketball, he was at risk of losing his education. He has talked openly about how he had to pivot. He didn't just "try" journalism. He attacked it.
He started writing for The Argus. He wasn't just reporting scores. He was being Stephen A. Smith. He famously wrote a column arguing that his own coach, the legendary Big House Gaines, should retire because of health issues. Think about the guts that takes. You’re a student-athlete on scholarship, and you tell the guy who gave you that scholarship it’s time to hang it up.
That was the birth of the "Screamin' A" persona. It wasn't an act. It was a commitment to saying what he believed was the truth, regardless of the consequences. Gaines didn't kick him out. He respected the hustle. He respected the honesty. That’s a lesson Smith carried to The Philadelphia Inquirer and eventually to the worldwide leader in sports.
The HBCU Impact
When asking where did Stephen A. Smith go to college, you're really asking about the culture that shaped him. HBCUs provide a specific kind of nurturing and rigor. Smith graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication.
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He wasn't just a student; he was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. If you watch him closely, you'll see him throw up the "hooks" or wear purple and gold. That brotherhood is a massive part of his identity. It gave him a network and a sense of belonging that you just don't get at every PWI (Predominantly White Institution).
He’s now one of the most vocal advocates for HBCUs in the country. He moved the First Take set to HBCU campuses. He hosts the HBCU Week. He’s putting his money where his mouth is. It's not just nostalgia. It's a debt he feels he owes to the school that kept him when his ACL gave out.
Why Winston-Salem State Matters Today
Does it really matter where a TV talking head went to school thirty years ago? In this case, yes. Smith’s career path is a blueprint for the "pivot." He didn't let a physical limitation end his career in sports; he just changed his position from the court to the press row.
A lot of kids today think they need to go to Duke or Kentucky to make it in the sports world. Smith is living proof that the "pedigree" of the school matters less than the work you do while you're there. He was a Hall of Fame journalist long before he was a TV star. He covered high school sports. He covered the NBA beat for years. He earned his stripes.
- 1991: Graduated from Winston-Salem State.
- The Argus: His first platform for controversial takes.
- Big House Gaines: The mentor who changed his trajectory.
- The Pivot: Moving from a broken-down point guard to a powerhouse reporter.
Lessons from Stephen A.’s College Years
If you're a student or a professional looking at Smith’s trajectory, there are a few "unspoken" rules he followed at Winston-Salem State that still apply today.
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First, your major is just a piece of paper; your extracurriculars are your resume. Smith didn't just attend classes. He ran the paper. He engaged with the community. He built a reputation for being the loudest, most prepared guy in the room.
Second, mentorship is everything. Without Clarence Gaines, there is no Stephen A. Smith. Find the person in your field who has the "keys" and learn everything they have to offer. Even if you disagree with them—like Smith did in his column—the relationship is the foundation.
Lastly, lean into your roots. Smith never tried to "neutralize" his New York accent or his HBCU background to fit into a corporate mold. He forced the corporate mold to expand to fit him. That’s a power move.
Actionable Next Steps for Aspiring Media Professionals
If you want to follow the path carved out by Smith’s time at Winston-Salem State, stop waiting for permission.
- Start writing or recording immediately. Smith didn't wait for an internship at ESPN; he wrote for his school paper until people couldn't ignore him.
- Research the history of HBCUs in sports. If you want to understand the landscape of modern media, you need to understand the institutions that produced giants like Smith, Wilbon, and many others.
- Practice the "Pivot." Identify your current "knee injury"—the thing holding you back—and find a way to turn that setback into a different kind of strength.
- Build a personal brand based on a "niche" truth. Don't just parrot what everyone else is saying. Find a unique angle and defend it with facts.
Stephen A. Smith’s time at Winston-Salem State University wasn't just a four-year stopover. It was the entire foundation. When you see him on TV tonight, remember the kid in North Carolina who lost his jumper but found his voice.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen A. Smith graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 1991.
- He played basketball under the legendary Clarence "Big House" Gaines before a knee injury ended his playing career.
- His career in journalism began at the school's newspaper, The Argus, where he famously called for his coach's retirement.
- Smith remains a dedicated advocate for HBCUs, frequently using his platform to increase their visibility and funding.
Professional success often comes from how we handle our failures. Smith turned a career-ending injury into a billion-dollar voice. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to respect the grind that started in Winston-Salem.