Smith is in his third season as an assistant coach for the Texas State men's basketball team after being hired in July 2023. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he also plays a primary role in recruiting.
A Louisiana native, Smith joined the Bobcats after spending four seasons at New Orleans as a top assistant coach. From 2019 to 2023, he played a key role in the development of several school record-holders with the Privateers and helped the team post an 18-win season and reach the College Basketball Classic in 2021-22.
Before New Orleans, Smith was the head coach at Wiley College (NAIA) in Marshall, Texas. In two seasons leading the program, he lifted the team to a 44-17 record. In his final season in 2018-19, he and the Wildcats went 24-7, reached the NAIA Sweet Sixteen, and captured their first national tournament win in 49 years.
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That season, Smith was named the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Coach of the Year and saw several Wildcats earn All-American and all-conference honors.
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Prior to Wiley College, Smith was an assistant coach and director of player development for LSU-Alexandria (NAIA) for three seasons. The team went 86-9 over the stretch and won three straight conference championships and two conference tournament titles. In 2017, he helped the team reach the NAIA Fab Four and finish the season with a 34-1 record.
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Smith’s coaching career began at the high school level where he was an assistant coach for eight years at Comeaux High School in Lafayette, La. He helped lead the team to several firsts, including a district championship, top-28 appearance, district MVP, All-Acadiana MVP, and a McDonald’s All-American.
Jay Smith Collegiate Coaching Career Timeline
2024-25: Texas State - Assistant Coach
2023-24: Texas State - Assistant Coach
2022-23: New Orleans - Assistant Coach
2021-22: New Orleans - Assistant Coach
2020-21: New Orleans - Assistant Coach
2019-20: New Orleans - Assistant Coach
2018-19: Wiley College (NAIA) - Head Coach
2017-18: Wiley College (NAIA) - Head Coach
2016-17: LSU-Alexandria (NAIA) - Assistant Coach
2015-16: LSU-Alexandria (NAIA) - Assistant Coach
2014-15: LSU-Alexandria (NAIA) - Assistant Coach
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