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For a very long time former Eastern Illinois men's basketball player Johnny Hernandez has been in the business of making people smile.  
 
From his playing days on the hardwood where he would make players and coaches smile passing out one of his school record 415 assists; to his current occupation of making patients smile as a dentist with Holmes Dental Associates in Bloomington, Illinois.
 
The interest in dentistry and basketball started at an early age for the Rockford, Illinois native as he went on to star at Rockford Boylan High School.
 
"I had a really good dentist when I was young.  I think he is who got me interested in dentistry," said Hernandez.  "From a really young age, I knew that this is was I wanted to do – second to playing in the NBA of course."
 
Hernandez made an immediate impact on the Panthers basketball team leading the squad in assists three of his four seasons from 1993-96.  He remembers a moment from his freshman year that stands out during a four-year run in the blue and grey.
 
"My freshman year, we were playing Wright State at home.  It was a close game down the stretch.  With about a minute left, I got a free break away and dunked on a taller player.  I got the basket and a foul.  The three point play iced the game for us.  I'll never forget that one."
 
It was during his freshman season that he also struck up a friendship with teammate Derrick Landrus who was just a year older than Hernandez.  They clicked both on and off the court with many of Hernandez' assists ending in Landrus baskets.
 
"Derrick and I hit it off from the start.  We always pushed each other during practice and in games.  He was also the one that introduced me to my wife, Hilarie.  We have been married 16 years and have five children, so I guess you could say I have most of what I care about in life thanks to Derrick.  We are still good friends and have boys that are similar in age.  It has been really fun for each of us watch them now grow in their young athletic careers."
 
At EIU Hernandez majored in Zoology with a Chemistry minor.  Following his days at EIU he went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School.  It was at that point that his life took a little different path than most dentists.
 
"After graduating from dental school I proudly served in the United States Navy as a dental officer.  While I was in the service from 2000-03, I competed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), which is roughly the equivalent of getting a master's degree in your field after college."
 
While in the Navy Hernandez won several awards including the Recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for Outstanding Naval Dental Service and Recipient of the National Defense Service Medal.
 
Hernandez notes that all of those accomplishments could not have been achieved had it not been for the lessons learned as a student-athlete at Eastern Illinois.
 
"Being a college athlete can be very challenging.  It taught me to prioritize my time and decide what is most important.  My coaches were great about allowing me to take courses that I needed for my major even though it meant missing a little practice time.  I was able to balance my course work with 2-3 hours of practice a day, games and road trips.  I have carried that approach with me during my professional career.  Life is all about finding a balance between work and family.  So far, I have been successful in finding that balance and I hope to continue that throughout my career."
 
While missing the competition and long road trips with teammates, these days he has found that balance with the busy schedule he and his wife Hilarie have chasing around five very active children.
 
"Most of my and Hilarie's life now centers around our five children: Cole, Averie, Sydnie, Tyson and Allie.  They are all becoming really busy with their various activities.  I help coach their teams whenever I can.  As you would expect our life is pretty crazy, but I wouldn't want it any other way."
 
The craziness of his life is a little different these days then the craziness of a game at Lantz Arena.  Still, Hernandez finds some similarities in the two in the fact that as much as each game of basketball is different, so too is each day as a dentist.
 
"I love that every day is different.  The main reason I didn't go into a dental specialty, such as oral surgery or endodontics, is because I like to be able to do every aspect of dentistry in a given day.  That is what keeps it interesting and fulfilling."
 
As a basketball player Hernandez felt fulfillment with the assist on a basket or icing a game with a dunk.  In his current occupation that fulfillment comes when he is able to see one of his patients smile.
 
"My favorite thing to do is finish a large esthetic case or smile makeover.  You can see a transformation of the patient from someone who was self-conscious about their teeth to a person who is proud to show off that smile!"
 
Sport: Men's Basketball
EIU: Class of 1996
Major: Zoology