Texas State men's basketball head coach Terrence Johnson has announced Jay Smith, formerly the lead assistant coach at New Orleans, as the Bobcats' new assistant coach.
Smith joins the Bobcats after spending the last four seasons at New Orleans. He played a key role in the development of school record- holders with the Privateers and All-Americans at his previous coaching stops.
'Coach Smith is a friend but mainly he's a ball coach, a mentor, and a leader,' said Johnson. 'He's everything that our players need and want in a coach. We're extremely excited to have him join our staff. I can't wait to see the type of value he brings to our program.'
Smith joined the New Orleans coaching staff starting with the 2019-20 season, and he helped the Privateers put together an 18-win season and reach the College Basketball Classic in 2021-22.
'I'm extremely thankful to join Coach Johnson's staff,' said Smith. 'Coach TJ has been a friend and mentor for me throughout my career. The opportunity to be a part of the championship- level culture that he has bult here at Texas State was an absolute no-brainer for me. I look forward to coming in and growing with the staff as well as being a resource and mentor to our student-athletes.'
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.
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.
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.
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, Louisiana.
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.
The New Roads, Louisiana native is a 2017 graduate of LSU-Alexandria.
