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Kyle Smith Named Columbia Head Men's Basketball Coach
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Courtesy: Columbia Athletics Sports Information/Media Relations
NEW YORK - Kyle Smith has been named Columbia University's
head men's basketball coach, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director of Intercollegiate
Athletics and Physical Education, announced today.
Smith, who is an 18-year veteran assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level,
has worked as the associate head men's basketball coach at St. Mary's College
(Ca.) of the West Coast Conference (WCC), for the past nine seasons. At St.
Mary's, he has played an integral role in building their successful men's basketball
program. In 2009-10, the Gaels finished 28-6 and reached the Sweet 16 of the
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
"Columbia University is very proud and excited to name Kyle Smith as our
head men's basketball coach," said Dr. Murphy. "Kyle is an outstanding
leader and successful recruiter with a terrific basketball mind. We are thrilled
to welcome him to Columbia."
Smith becomes the 22nd head coach in the 110-year history of Columbia men's
basketball. He replaces Joe Jones, who left Columbia earlier this year after
seven seasons (86-108, 39-59 Ivy League) to become the associate head men's
basketball coach at Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
"I am very excited to be the next head men's basketball coach at Columbia,
one of the nation's premier universities," says Smith. "I am very
grateful to Dr. M. Dianne Murphy and President Lee C. Bollinger for this tremendous
opportunity. I look forward to the challenge of building an Ivy League championship
men's basketball program at Columbia."
When Smith arrived at St. Mary's (Ca.) in 2001, the team had won only two games
in the previous season. Over the past three years, the school has won 81 games.
As the associate head coach of the Gaels, he was responsible for running the
team's offense, and coordinating all recruiting activities. He was a vital component
of the coaching staff that saw the Gaels ascend into the Top-25 this year.
"He will be very successful," says Randy Bennett, the head coach at
St. Mary's College (Ca.). "He has been a huge part of what we've done [at
St. Mary's]. It's been he and I together - it's been like having a Co-coach."
Smith takes over a Columbia men's basketball team that finished 11-17 (5-9 Ivy
League) in 2009-10. The Lions return their leading scorer, rising junior Noruwa
Agho (16.3 pts/gm), who was named second-team All-Ivy League and third-team
all-Metropolitan Area last year.
"We are committed to excellence in men's basketball at Columbia,"
remarks Murphy. "We have the utmost confidence that Kyle Smith will build
and sustain a high-achieving men's basketball program on Morningside Heights."
Smith is a 1992 graduate of Hamilton College, where he played basketball, and
helped lead the Continentals to a 26-1 record and a #1 ranking in NCAA Division
III during his junior season. He holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership
from the University of San Diego, where he began his coaching career. He and
his wife, Katie, will relocate to New York City with their son, Rocco
