“We are extremely pleased and fortunate that Coach Smith
has accepted the opportunity to be our next men’s
basketball coach,” said Salani. “Given the wonderful
applicants we had for the opening, I’m thrilled with the
opportunity to be able to work with Terry. His
leadership and experiences of success in the GLIAC will
undoubtedly raise our standard not only within our men’s
basketball program, but also for us regionally within
the DIII landscape. We are looking forward to Coach
Smith’s coaching abilities and network to help propel
our men’s basketball team forward.”
The Crystal Falls, Michigan native spent the 2010
season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at
Michigan State University under head coach Suzy
Merchant. Smith assisted with all aspects of the women’s
basketball program at MSU. The Spartans won their first
ever outright Big Ten Championship and advanced to the
second round of the NCAA tournament.
In addition to his year at Michigan State, Smith has
amassed 16 years of collegiate head coaching experience.
Most recently, Smith spent three seasons as the head
coach at Alma College from 2007-2010. Prior to Alma,
Smith was the head coach at Great Lakes Collegiate
Athletic Conference member institutions Grand Valley
State University (1997-2004) and Lake Superior State
University (1991-1997).
At Grand Valley State, Smith won 110 games including
a 2000-2001 GLIAC North Division and Conference
Tournament Championship. At Lake Superior State, Smith
led the Lakers to both the 1995-1996 GLIAC regular
season title and a GLIAC Conference Tournament
Championship. He was honored as the 1996 GLIAC “Coach of
the Year” and the 1996 NABC District “Coach of the Year”
following the season.
In between stints at GVSU and LSSU, Smith gained
professional head coaching experience with the Holland
Blast of the International Basketball League from
2006-2007 after being named an assistant coach the
previous year. Smith was also the boy’s varsity
basketball coach at Hart High School from 2004-2007.
Smith began his coaching career as the boy’s varsity
basketball coach at Fulton High School from 1984-1986.
He followed that with a district championship at Cedar
Springs High School from 1986-1987 and two NCAA Division
II men’s assistant coaching positions at Ferris State
University and Lake Superior State. During his time at
FSU, the Bulldogs won 25 games and advanced to the NCAA
Division II Elite Eight. He has been a member of the
National Association of Basketball Coaches since 1985
and the Basketball Coaches of Michigan since 1984.
Smith graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Physical Education in 1984. He
received his Master of Arts degree in Physical Education
from Central Michigan University and a Master of
Arts-Education Leadership Certificate from Grand Valley
State.
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