Smith has just completed his third season with the Rainbow Warrior basketball team. After serving two years as the team’s video coordinator, Smith was promoted to Sports Performance Analyst in the summer of 2014. This new role combines the former Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator positions. Smith now has the added responsibilities of planning & coordinating all aspects of team travel, meal planning, scheduling of facilities, purchasing team equipment, and managing the team budget. Smith is also responsible for the hiring and supervision of the program’s support staff of administrative assistants, graduate managers, and undergraduate managers.
From 2012 to 2014 as the team’s video coordinator, Smith’s primary responsibilities included video and statistical analysis of team practices and games, video analysis of upcoming opponents, and the preparation of video and paper based scouting reports. Smith also served as the men’s basketball liaison with the Manoa Maniacs, managed the team’s social media, and assisted with the promotion of the men’s basketball program.
During Smith’s three year tenure, the Rainbow Warriors have recorded three consecutive winning seasons including back-to-back 20-win seasons for just the third time in the modern era of the program. In 2014-15, the Rainbow Warriors played in the conference championship game for the first time since 2002 and finished with 22 wins, the program’s most victories since the 2001-02 season.
Smith has led a spirited campaign to revitalize the student section at the Stan Sheriff Center. Smith is the inspiration behind the popular costume party themed basketball games such as Star Wars Night, Harry Potter Night, and Superhero Night. Through his efforts, average student attendance doubled during his first term from 207 in 2011-12 to 414 in 2012-13. Interest from students continues to grow. In 2014-15, the team set new student attendance records of 504 for an exhibition game and 824 for a regular season game. Overall attendance in 2014-15 also improved to 6,595.
During the summer months, Smith serves as a performance analyst for Great Britain’s senior men’s and senior women’s national teams. Smith’s primary responsibilities for Team GB include advance scouting, video and statistical analysis of upcoming opponents, practice analysis, game analysis, and the development of strategic game plans and scouting reports. Since his involvement in 2011, both British National teams have experienced unprecedented success, qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Games and the past two EuroBasket championships.
In 2011-12, Smith served as assistant video coordinator for the Boston Celtics under Doc Rivers. In this role, he was responsible for all the team’s video based scouting needs and worked closely with the Celtics’ defensive coordinator to create pregame and post game edits. In addition, Smith assisted with player development and worked out players before practices and games including putting the NBA’s all-time leading three-point shooter Ray Allen through his famous pregame routine. He also served as an assistant coach for Boston Celtics’ Summer League team. The Celtics claimed their fifth consecutive Atlantic Division title and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
His stint with the Celtics was his second with an NBA team after working with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a similar capacity in 2010-11. Upon joining the Cavs, Smith became the first-ever British national named to an NBA coaching staff. Smith’s video responsibilities extended to the front office where he created video edits on draft prospects in preparation for the 2011 NBA draft. The Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick.
Smith also boasts experience with three NCAA Division I teams, including a pair of national championship powerhouses. Most recently in 2009-10, Smith was a graduate assistant at the University of Florida under head coach Billy Donovan. That year, the Gators returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since winning back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.
In 2007-08 Smith served as the director of basketball operations at the College of William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Va. The Tribe finished with its first winning record in a decade and advanced to the conference championship game for the first time in school history.
Smith’s first experience at a Division I program was at the University of North Carolina and began with a national championship in 2005. From 2004 to 2006 Smith was a student manager under Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams. After losing their top seven scorers to graduation and the 2005 NBA draft, the Tar Heels - led by ACC Freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough - overachieved in 2006 making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament and finishing with a No. 10 end of season ranking.
Smith has also won conference championships as an assistant coach at Montreat College in North Carolina and as a student assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho. He began his coaching career as the head coach at Cricklade College in his hometown of Andover. During that same season he played for the Southampton Trailblazers in England’s national basketball league.
Smith maintained a 3.95 GPA and graduated with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina with a double major in exercise & sport science and psychology in 2006. He completed his Master of Science in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology from the University of Florida in 2011. His academic achievements earned him induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious honor society. Smith holds level 4 accreditation as an applied performance analyst from the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport.
Smith’s File
Years at UH: 3rd season
Hometown: Andover, England.
Alma Mater: North Carolina (2006)
Coaching Experience
2012-15 Hawai'i (Sports Performance Analyst)
2011-12 Boston Celtics (Assistant Video Coordinator)
2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers (Seasonal Video Assistant)
2009-10 Florida (Graduate Assistant Coach)
2007-08 William & Mary (Director of Basketball Operations)
2006-07 Montreat College (Assistant Coach)
2004-05 North Carolina (Student Manager)
1999-02 College of Southern Idaho (Student Assistant Coach)
1998-99 Cricklade College (Head Coach)
