The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball
Nevada Smith
- Title:
- Director of Program Development
1st season at Texas
A former NBA G-League head coach, Nevada Smith begins his first season as Director of Program Development at The University of Texas. Smith was hired at Texas on Sept. 28, 2020.
Smith comes to Austin after serving as the head coach of the NBA G-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce for three seasons (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). He led the Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s affiliate, to a 78-72 mark in his three years. Smith also spent two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15) as the head coach of the NBA G-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He guided the Vipers, the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, to a 57-44 record in his two years.
During his five seasons in the G-League, Smith coached a total of 14 players who were called up to the NBA. The list includes Malik Beasley (Sioux Falls), Isaiah Canaan (Rio Grande Valley), Clint Capela (Rio Grande Valley), Robert Covington (Rio Grande Valley), Torrey Craig (Sioux Falls), Troy Daniels (Rio Grande Valley), Chris Johnson (Rio Grande Valley), James Johnson (Rio Grande Valley), Nick Johnson (Rio Grande Valley), Derrick Jones Jr. (Sioux Falls), Duncan Robinson (Sioux Falls), Derrick Walton Jr. (Sioux Falls), Briante Weber (Sioux Falls) and Okaro White (Sioux Falls).
Prior to his time at the professional level, Smith spent 11 seasons as a head coach or assistant coach at the collegiate level. He served for two years (2011-12 and 2012-13) as head coach at Keystone College, a NCAA Division III school in La Plume, Pa. Smith led Keystone to a 39-16 mark in his two seasons, including a 21-6 record in 2011-12.
Smith worked as an assistant coach at Ithaca College (Ithaca, N.Y.) for five seasons (2006-07 through 2010-11). During his five years at Ithaca, the Bombers posted a 96-40 overall record, advanced to a pair of NCAA Division III playoffs (2009 and 2011) and won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) title in 2010.
Prior to his time at Ithaca, Smith spent one season (2005-06) as an assistant coach and head junior varsity coach at Allegheny College (Meadville, Pa.). He served as head coach at State University of New York (SUNY) at Canton for one year (2004-05). Smith began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at St. Lawrence University (Canton, N.Y.) for two seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04).
Smith was a four-year starter at Division III Bethany College (Bethany, W. Va.), where he scored 1,255 career points to rank fifth on the program’s all-time scoring list. He led the nation in three-point field goals per game as a junior in 2000-01, and his 313 career three-pointers made ranked 13th among all NCAA Division III players.
As a senior in 2001-02, Smith helped the Bisons to a school single-season record 21 wins and the program’s first NCAA playoff appearance in 20 years. He also played golf at Bethany, serving as team captain for three years and earning all-conference recognition. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Bethany in 2002 and received his master’s degree from St. Lawrence in 2004.
Smith and his wife, Lindsay, have one daughter, Finley.
