Stanford employed Washington State’s Kyle Smith as its subsequent males’s head basketball coach, the college introduced Monday. Smith simply led WSU to its first NCAA Match look since 2008 — and nabbed his first NCAA win by defeating Drake within the first spherical. Smith replaces Jerod Haase, who was fired after his eighth season and with zero NCAA Match appearances.
Smith has been Stanford’s high goal for weeks; the Cardinal waited for Washington State’s postseason run to finish as a way to full the rent. Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir labored with Smith and his illustration all all through Sunday earlier than agreeing to phrases deep into the night. CBS Sports activities’ Matt Norlander initially reported Smith’s hiring.
Smith owns a 258-193 report throughout stops at three locations which might be historically extraordinarily arduous to win at: Columbia, San Francisco and Wazzu. The 54-year previous is a former longtime Saint Mary’s assistant underneath Randy Bennett who has proven the power to mould profitable groups in tough terrain as a head coach.
“The chance to function the top males’s basketball coach at Stanford is a dream come true, and I wish to thank Bernard Muir for entrusting me with this chance,” Smith stated in an announcement. “From my perspective, Stanford has the assets and status to draw the perfect student-athlete who’s searching for the character improvement facets of what our basketball program will supply. Stanford has the capability to offer a spot the place student-athletes can hone their management expertise and mind via arduous work and group constructing. I’m thrilled to attempt to present that kind of tradition for an establishment that prides itself on excellence in all areas.”
Sources informed CBS Sports activities that Washington State’s downgrade to the WCC additionally performed a consider Smith’s determination, although he thought-about staying as a result of immense help from the neighborhood and inside Washington State’s college infrastructure. Smith was additionally critically thought-about earlier on this cycle by West Virginia and Vanderbilt.
“I’m extraordinarily happy to welcome Kyle and his household to Stanford,” Muir stated. “Kyle has a formidable observe report of enhancing ends in the packages he has led, and we heard constantly all through our search course of that he leads with nice character and integrity. I look ahead to working alongside Kyle and I’m excited for Cardinal student-athletes to expertise his passionate management.”
With Stanford becoming a member of the ACC subsequent season amid the Pac-12’s collapse, Smith will likely be challenged to resurrect a struggling program throughout a time of transition. The Cardinal final appeared within the NCAA Match in 2014 and face an more and more difficult path to success within the NIL and switch portal period. Stanford’s rigorous educational customary could make getting transfers accepted into the college a problem.
However different former Washington State coaches have gone on to succeed in main heights. Amongst them are present Houston coach Kelvin Sampson and present Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who had been the final two WSU coaches to steer the Cougars to an NCAA Match earlier than Smith’s arrival.