Smith was a member of New York'sHamilton College men's basketball team that achieved a 26–1 record his junior season and achieved the national Division III #1 ranking. He also shot 51.3 percent from three-point range, which still stands as a Hamilton single-season record. Additionally, University of Richmond head men's basketball coach Chris Mooney referred to Smith as "the smartest man in college basketball. I think he has the best feel and overview of basketball programs and coaching of anyone I've ever met." Smith has a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of San Diego.
Coaching career
In his first season at Columbia, Smith piloted the Lions to a 15–13 record, becoming the first new Columbia head coach in 33 years to notch a winning season in his inaugural campaign. Smith backed up his offensive reputation with sterling numbers on that side of the ball in year one in Morningside Heights; the Lions scored more than 10 points per game more in 2010–11 than they did the year before and scored more than 70 points 15 times during the entire season. Smith followed up his first season with 15 more wins in 2011–12, becoming the first Columbia basketball coach to record as many as 30 wins in his first two seasons since Lou Rossini in 1952. Under Smith's tutelage, Columbia starting point guard Brian Barbour was voted first team All-Ivy League, the second straight year a Columbia guard was given this honor. Smith steered Columbia to an RPI of 186 in both 2010–11 and 2011–12, the highest finish in the program's history. Prior to his appointment at Columbia in May 2010, Smith spent 18 seasons as an assistant coach on the NCAA Division I level, including nine seasons at Saint Mary's College of California, one season at the Air Force Academy and eight years at the University of San Diego. While at Saint Mary's, he played a role in building the Gaels program into a perennial contender in the West Coast Conference. In his nine seasons with the Gaels, they made three NCAA Tournament appearances and earned one National Invitation Tournament bid. Saint Mary's averaged 23 wins over his last six seasons on the staff, including an 81–20 record over the last three seasons.
Kyle Smith was named as the head coach of University of San Francisco, on March 30th, 2016. Smith led the Dons for three seasons, winning at least 20 games in each season and making two postseason appearances. At the conclusion of 2018–2019 season, Smith left USF to take the head coaching job at Washington State.
Washington State
On March 27, 2019, Smith was named as the 19th head coach of Washington State, agreeing to a six year contract worth $1.4 million annually. He was formally introduced at a press conference on April 1, 2019.
Personal life
Smith and his wife, Katie, have three sons, Rocco, Bo, and Luke.
