The Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation at the State University of New York at New Paltz has announced Conor Smith as the new assistant men’s basketball coach for the upcoming 2016-17 season.

Smith arrives to New Paltz after serving as an assistant coach at New York University, his alma mater, for the 2015-16 season, helping lead the Violets to a 21-6 record and a first-round victory in the 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Smith played for the Violets from 2012-15, joining the squad as a walk-on during his sophomore season and was named team captain for his senior campaign.

“The team and I are extremely lucky to welcome Conor to our coaching staff,” stated head men’s basketball coach Mike Rejniak. “Conor’s enthusiasm, work ethic and winning mentality immediately separated himself from a very talented pool of candidates.”

“Smith brings a fresh new coaching dynamic to myself and longtime assistant Jim Wherry and his experiences of being a senior captain and working as an assistant coach for an NCAA Tournament caliber program, like NYU, will greatly help us take the next step towards our goal of a SUNYAC Championship here at New Paltz,” Rejniak continued. “I greatly look forward to working the sidelines alongside him as he further continues to
develop as a great young coach.”

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to join the New Paltz athletic family,” Smith expressed. “I am looking forward to great things to come with the men’s basketball team.”

Smith graduated from NYU in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology while minoring in history and math/computer science. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in sports administration through SUNY Cortland.

http://nphawks.com/news/2016/9/14/smith-hired-as-assistant-mens-basketball-coach.aspx