PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Director of Athletics Pat Chun introduced Kyle Smith as the 19th Cougar men's basketball head coach during a press conference Monday, April 1. Smith was signed to a six-year contract at $1.4 million annually.

"Today marks the next chapter in our men's basketball program," said Chun. "In our next head coach we sought out someone with the DNA of every great coach in the history of our great school. When you call around and ask about Kyle Smith, they talk about him as a person before they ever talk about him as a coach or a data analyst. He's a teacher, and someone who can recruit and develop character and leadership."

Smith brings nine years of head coaching experience to the Palouse along with 18 years as an assistant coach. He comes to WSU having spent the last three seasons at the helm of the University of San Francisco men's basketball program. There he compiled a 63-40 (.612) record, notching 20 or more wins each season and two postseason tournament appearances. Smith's three-straight 20-win seasons marked just the fourth time in school history that USF had 20 or more wins in at least three-consecutive seasons and the first time in nearly 40 years. Prior to his stint in the Bay Area, he served as the head coach at Columbia where he put together a 101-82 overall mark including a CIT Championship his final season (2015-16). 

"I think it's really important that we focus on building a culture around our program here, something that all of us as student-athletes, as faculty, as staff, and people around the country can feel proud of," WSU President Kirk Schulz said. "With that, I'm thrilled to welcome Kyle and Katie Smith to Washington State University."

This past season, 2018-19, the Dons finished with a 21-10 mark and 9-7 West Coast Conference record, finishing fourth in the league. In Smith's second season, 2017-18, he led USF to a 22-17 mark and a tie for fourth in the WCC with a 9-9 league record. In his first season on the Hilltop (2016-17), Smith led the Dons to a 20-13 overall record, including a 10-8 mark in the WCC, tying for fourth. It marked the first 20-win season since the 2013-14 season and the program's third since the 1985-86 season. The wins were also the most by a first-year USF head coach since Pete Barry led the Dons to a 24-7 record in 1980-81. All three seasons under Smith saw USF finish fourth in the WCC, while it advanced to the CBI in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, including a runner-up finish in 2018. 

"There are three things we will focus on every day with the players," Smith said. "You're going to have a great attitude, you will show appreciation for your scholarship, the opportunity to play basketball, to be in Pullman. To experience this, I've never been on a campus that shows more pride in their undergrads, people on the street, they're very excited. We're going to have great work ethic – nothing gets done without work. Put the time in and grind and do it and the results will come, I feel very confident in that. Lastly, maybe the most important thing is pride in your program. Make it big time where you're at. I feel great about Pullman. Once you're here you're going to fall in love with this place and these people are going to love you up." 

"I'm excited about the association," Smith continued. "I can't believe there's only been 19 coaches, and there have been some great coaches; Jack Friel, Marv Harshman, George Raveling, Kelvin Sampson and obviously Tony Bennett, just to name a few." 

In his three seasons at USF, Smith's teams defeated three Pac-12 schools, including wins over both California and Stanford in 2018-19 and a defeat of Utah in the Diamond Head Classic in 2016-17. The Dons broke the school record for 3-pointers made in a season in both 2017-18 and 2016-17 with 333 and 304 3-pointers made, respectively. San Francisco also improved defensively under Smith, lowering its opponent scoring average by more than 10.0 points per game his first season from the previous season (2015-16).

Throughout his tenure at San Francisco, Smith produced seven All-West Coast Conference selections, including two-time first team honoree Frankie Ferrari, two second team honorees and three all-freshman. Ferrari also picked up NABC District 9 All-Region Second Team honors in 2019 as his 73 3-pointers rank third in school history.

Prior to his arrival at USF, Smith served as the head coach at Columbia for six seasons, guiding the Lions to a 101-82 overall record and two postseason appearances. The 101 victories were the most in a six-year span at Columbia since the program posted 107 victories from 1965-71. In his final season (2015-16), Columbia finished with a 25-10 record, third in the Ivy League with a 10-4 mark, and captured the CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship with a 73-67 victory over UC Irvine in the title game. The Lions became only the second Ivy League team to win a postseason tournament after Princeton's 1975 National Invitation Tournament Championship.
 
The 25 victories established a single-season school record while the 10 Ivy League victories were the most by a Columbia team since the 1992-93 squad also went 10-4 in the Ivy. It was Columbia's second 20-win season in three years under Smith, who also guided the Lions to a 21-13 record during the 2013-14 season.
 
During his last three seasons at Columbia, the Lions compiled a 59-38 (.608) overall record. The 59 wins tied Princeton for the third-highest total in the Ivy League behind Yale (64) and Harvard (63).
 
During his six-year tenure, Smith also developed 10 players who earned All-Ivy League honors, including Maodo Lo, a two-time All-Ivy First Team recipient who ranks as the Lions second all-time leading scorer and holds the school-record for three-pointers made.
 
Prior to his appointment at Columbia in May of 2010, Smith spent 18 seasons as an assistant coach on the NCAA Division I level, including nine seasons (2001-10) at Saint Mary's College, one season at Air Force (2000-01) and eight years at the University of San Diego (1992-2000).
 
While at Saint Mary's, Smithplayed an integral role in building the Gaels' program into a perennial championship contender in the West Coast Conference. In his nine seasons in Moraga, the Gaels made three NCAA Tournament (2005, '08, '10) appearances and earned one NIT (2009) bid. Saint Mary's averaged 23 wins over his last six seasons on the staff, including an 81-20 record over his final three seasons. In 2009-10, Saint Mary's finished with a 28-6 record, advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship and were ranked 19th nationally in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. As the associate head coach under Randy Bennett, Smith was also responsible for coordinating the team's offense and played a key role in the recruitment of all-conference players such as Matthew Dellavedova, Patty Mills, Diamon Simpson and Mickey McConnell. Mills (San Antonio) and Dellavedova (Cleveland) are currently playing in the NBA.
 
During his one season at Air Force, Smith served as the Falcons' offensive and recruiting coordinator and also took a lead role with player development and scouting. He was instrumental in the recruitment of 2003-04 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Nick Welch along with all-conference players Antoine Hood and A.J. Kuhle.
 
Before joining the Falcons, Smith served eight seasons as an assistant coach at San Diego from 1992-2000 under Hank Egan and Brad Holland. During his time at San Diego, Smith helped lead the Toreros to their second-highest win total in school history (20 in 1999-2000) and as associate head coach, orchestrated a defense that allowed the lowest opponent scoring average (62.6) in the West Coast Conference (62.6 in 1999-2000).
 
Born in El Paso, Texas, Smith graduated in 1992 from Hamilton College with a degree in English literature. He also played basketball and helped lead the Continentals to a 26-1 record and the No. 1 ranking in the nation for NCAA Division III as a junior. He shot a school-record 51.3 percent from three-point range and helped Hamilton to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship.
 
Smith also earned a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of San Diego, where he began his coaching career. Kyle and his wife, Katie, have three sons, Rocco, Bo and Luke.
 
"I'm just really excited to be associated with Washington State and the Pac-12 and to be able to compete at the highest level. It's truly an honor and I'm just really excited to get after it, said Smith."


What they're saying about Kyle Smith…
"This is a tremendous hire for Pat Chun and the Washington State men's basketball program. Kyle is an incredible leader who will have a plan in place to spearhead a positive culture from day one. I was incredibly lucky to work under Kyle for two years at Columbia and his direct influence on me is reflective in many of our analytical models and teachings we currently use with the Cavaliers. Kyle was playing "MoneyBall" in college before there was ever such a thing. Wazzu fans will marvel at the improvement of their players and the program from year to year with real tangible data. On top of all his coaching talents, Kyle is an even better person and family man. He remains a consistent mentor of mine and I still rely on him for advice often. Congrats again to the Washington State administration on this brilliant partnership. It's a perfect fit "
-    Koby Altman – General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers

"I think it's a great hire. Kyle is a terrific coach, his track record speaks for itself. I tried to hire Kyle when I was the head coach at Washington State and tried to convince him to join our staff. He's been under a great head coach in Randy Bennett. Kyle knows how to recruit, he knows how to coach the game and I think his values will align well with the Pullman community and the Wazzu family. I think it's a great fit for both parts."
-    Tony Bennett - Head Men's Basketball Coach, Virginia  

"Washington State is extremely fortunate to have Kyle Smith now leading their men's basketball program. He's a fantastic coach but more importantly a better person who will get the most out of his players. I was fortunate to be one of those players who learned and grew because he pushed me to my best. Washington State is in good hands for many years to come with this hiring."
-    James Borrego - Head Coach, Charlotte Hornets

"I have known Coach Smith for close to 30 years. He was an assistant coach at the University of San Diego when I played there and we are still very close to this day. He has won at a high level everywhere he has coached and he will win at a high level at Washington State University. His contagious passion and tireless work ethic will rub off on everyone that's part of the program. Coach Smith is a great coach but even a better person. I told Klay Thompson now I have a real reason to root for the Cougs!" 
-    Mike Brown - Assistant Coach, Golden State Warriors

"Kyle Smith is one of the biggest influences on my basketball life and my personal life. He was a great assistant coach that helped me see the game in a bigger and different way and now as a young head coach in this league, he continues to mentor me and help me grow as I move through the NBA. Washington State got a first-class, diligent worker who will represent the university in an upstanding manner." 
-    David Fizdale - Head Coach, New York Knicks 

"I think Kyle is a terrific hire for Washington State and I anticipate that he'll do an outstanding job with the Cougars. His body of work speaks for itself, including the remarkable job he did in reviving the USF program over the last few years. He possesses all of the qualities needed to build a strong program that everyone in Pullman can be proud of in the near future. Now, if he can just find a couple of players like Klay Thompson on the recruiting trail, he'll be on the fast track to success."
-    Steve Kerr - Head Coach, Golden State Warriors