I mentioned this move in the DAILY DIRT back on 5/29. It’s now official…Sean Smith has been named as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois. Here’s the release from NIU:
Northern Illinois University men’s basketball head coach Matt Majkrzak announced the addition of Sean Smith to the Huskie staff as an assistant coach on Monday (June 8). Smith joins NIU following two seasons on staff at South Dakota.
“Sean is one of the rising stars in this profession,” said Majkrzak. “He was national coach of the year at the head coach at North Park and has made a big impact at every program he’s been at. He’s a relentless worker and competitor and as a former elite head coach will be invaluable in all phases of our program. On top of that, it’s a sort of homecoming being back in the area he’s from and where he has had so much success. We are so excited to welcome Sean, his wife Gabby, and their four children to NIU.”
Smith was part of 35 victories for the Coyotes over the past two seasons, including an appearance in the Summit League Tournament Semifinals in 2025. He helped mentor five All-Summit League honorees in his two years at South Dakota, including Chase Forte who was named Summer League Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
“I am fired up to join Coach Majkrzak’s staff at NIU,” said Smith. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program and can’t wait to help build something special. My family and I are excited to become part of the NIU community and connect with student-athletes, campus and fans.”
Prior to his time at South Dakota, Smith was the head coach at North Park University in Chicago, where he earned D3Hoops.com National Coach of the Year honors in 2023 after leading the Vikings to their first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament title. North Park finished the 2022-23 season with a 24-6 record, its most wins since 1986-87, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Vikings also recorded 13 conference wins, their most since 1990-91, and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987.
Smith, a native of Chicago, spent three seasons at Wisconsin Lutheran College prior to his time at North Park, including the last two as associate head coach. He helped the Warriors to back-to-back league championships, including its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) championship in 10 years, and the first NACC tournament championship. He began his coaching career on the high school level at Orange County High School and Kenosha Christian Life.
A four-year letterwinner at Trinity International University, Smith helped lead the Trojans to a NAIA Elite Eight appearance, CCAC championship and 30-win season his senior year. A three-time team captain, Smith played 130 career games at Trinity International, second-most in program history.
Smith graduated from Trinity International in 2017 with a degree in biblical studies. He received a master’s degree in sports management from Waldorf University in 2020. He and his wife, Gabby, have four children.
