Former Auburn coach Sonny Smith announced Wednesday that he will no longer be involved in men's basketball this season and beyond.

Smith, who turns 88 later this month, cut his schedule last season to playing only home games. Randall Dickey, who served as an assistant coach at Auburn under Tony Barbee from 2010 to 2014, worked road games last season and will now become a full-time analyst alongside play-by-play star Andy Burcham.

“That front row seat was more than a job; it was love of the game,” Smith said. “As a color commentator, I had the privilege of bringing the game to life and going beyond the stats and scores by adding a little more color to the game.”

Smith's relationship with Auburn began in 1978 when he became the Tigers' head coach. He led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in 1984 with a team consisting of Charles Barkley, Chuck Person and Gerald White. Smith's next two teams also qualified for the NCAAs – with the 1986 squad making it to the Elite Eight.

After the 1988/89 season, Smith left Auburn for VCU.

His second hosting stint kicked into high gear in 2012 when Smith began working with Rod Bramblett for men's basketball games. His folksy stories about Roan Mountain, Tennessee – his birthplace – as well as humorous jokes about his life and coaching career endeared him to fans who appreciated his striking kindness.

On the show, Smith struck a satisfying balance between criticizing officers and finding ways to humanize them, occasionally praising their work. Although Smith expressed a lot of criticism on the show, as a broadcaster he was careful to avoid cynicism.

Smith has found his groove working with Burcham over the past three years. Burcham appreciated Smith's down-to-earth stories and playfully sought out additional details, which Smith was happy to provide. This often led to some fascinating asides, which always culminated in a giggle, if not outright laughter, from Burcham and the audience alike.

Smith's reasoning was that he “failed math in three states.”