Every American basketball team will make changes every offseason. That is certainly the case for the Texas Tech basketball team, which must fill at least five scholarships. But the biggest piece Texas Tech needs to replace may be assistant coach Dave Smart.
On Wednesday, Smart was officially announced as the head coach at the University of the Pacific in California. This is a significant loss for the Red Raiders.
“I would also like to thank Grant McCasland and everyone at Texas Tech for giving me the opportunity last season. It was a great experience,” he said in a statement Wednesday. Stockton needs to put down roots and get to work. ”
Smart has a total of 656 wins in Canada. Now he is ready to climb the American university ladder.
Smart lasted just one season with the Red Raiders. But his offensive expertise was a big factor in the program’s success in the first season of the Grant McCasland era.
This year, the Red Raiders had one of the best offenses in the NCAA despite losing five of their top six scorers from the 2022-23 season. The team ranked 27th overall in KenPom.com’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Rating (an estimate of points scored by a team per 100 possessions).
That was largely due to the system Smart brought over from the ranks of Canadian college basketball. North of the border, Smart is considered a college legend, and his hiring by the Red Raiders was widely praised as a wise move.
From 1999 to 2019, he led Canada’s Carleton Ravens to 13 U.S. Sports National Championships, Canada’s equivalent of the NCAA national title in the United States. He also served as an assistant coach for the Canadian men’s national team.
Last July, he accepted a position on McCasland’s staff. He brings offensive expertise with him and was tasked with coordinating the Red Raider’s scoring attack during the recently concluded season.
Many credit Smart with helping the team learn to increase the tempo of play this season. During his time at North Texas, McCasland’s teams were among the most cautious in the NCAA, but this year’s Red Raiders were more up-tempo and took more 3-pointers than anyone expected. This was largely due to Smart’s influence.
Now, the Red Raiders must find another offensive-minded coach to replace Smart. They’ll need someone like Smart who can execute innovative plans and get the most out of the talent on the roster. It will be one of the most important moves McCasland has to make this offseason.
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