Trinity University Director of Athletics Bob King has announced that Jimmy Smith will be the newest head coach of the Tiger men’s basketball program, beginning with the 2020-21 season.
Smith comes to Trinity after three seasons as the head coach of Millsaps (Miss.) College, including a 17-10 record in 2019-20. Prior to his stint at Millsaps, Smith previously helmed fellow Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference schools Schreiner (Texas) University and Texas Lutheran University for two seasons each. He won two SCAC Championships and made the NCAA Division III Playoffs twice at Texas Lutheran.
“Jimmy is a successful Division III head coach who was also an accomplished Division III student-athlete, which is exactly what we were looking for in this search,” said King.” Jimmy also brings his knowledge of high school basketball in the state of Texas and the region, which will help tremendously in recruiting. We welcome Jimmy and his family to the Trinity community. As chairman of the committee, I also want to thank the members of the search committee for their dedication and hours of work in identifying top candidates for the open position at Trinity.”
In addition to his work as a head coach, Smith also spent three seasons as an assistant coach and graduate assistant at Sam Houston State (Texas) University, helping the Division I program to 61 wins during his time there.
Smith will replace long-time head coach Pat Cunningham, who retired after his 21st season with the Tigers this spring. Coach Cunningham is Trinity’s all-time leader with 352 victories during his tenure, as well as a 0.614 winning percentage. Smith has compiled more than 100 wins in seven seasons as a head coach in Division III, as well as more than 130 as an assistant coach at the D-I and D-III levels.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity,” said Smith. “I want to thank the leadership at Trinity for their confidence in me to lead this program. I am ecstatic to be working for one of the premier universities in the country – both from an athletic and academic perspective. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Cunningham, and I’m looking forward to building on the many positive things that he has done for the program and university.”
A graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), Smith was a four-year letterman for the Crusaders, earning the UMHB Male Athlete of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, as well as securing All-American Southwest Conference Honorable Mention recognition. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for three seasons, compiling 70 wins and making three appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
“Our family is excited to get to San Antonio and build relationships with the faculty, staff, alumni, and most importantly with the student-athletes,” continued Smith. “Tiger fans will see a team that will play hard and play together. We will play an up-tempo style that will put our player’s in the best position to utilize their strengths. I have great familiarity with Trinity basketball and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. I am confident that our current players, and recruits, will flourish in this system.”
Coach Smith celebrates his 10th anniversary to his wife Lori this month, and the couple have three children: Harrison (8), Eliza (6), and Sage (4).
https://www.trinitytigers.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/200416_smith_hire
