Coach Smith begins his ninth season as head coach of the Lee men's basketball program. Under his leadership the Flames have established themselves as one of the top teams in the rugged Gulf South Conference (GSC). He reached the 100-win milestone at Lee when his Flames defeated Montevallo (73-57) on Nov. 11, 2022. The wins continued at a rapid pace and on Jan. 5, 2023, Coach Smith joined a select group, recording his 300th overall career victory, with a 72-56 triumph over Christian Brothers. His current career record stands at 330-236 and his Lee mark at 139-82.
The 2023-04 Flames went on a nine-game winning streak late in year and finished 21-9 for the season and tied for second place in the conference standings. A 5-overtime loss to Alabama Huntsville (115-109) in the finals of the GSC Tournament will long be remembered. It also a game that made GSC tournament history by being the longest-ever. Smith’s men earned an out-large bid to the NCAA D2 National Regional and traveled all the way to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and was eliminated by conference rival West Georgia. The honors poured in for graduate student Beyuan Hendricks. After being voted All-GSC and to the GSC All-Tournamet teams. He put the wrapping on his outstanding year by being named NABC Division All-South and First Team All-District. Graduate student JJ Barnes was rewarded for his fine play on the hardwood and in the classroom by being labeled a CSC Academic All-America.
The Flames finished the 2022-03 season at 20-8. The team ran off five straight wins to finish 18-6 in the GSC standings. After opening conference tournament play with a victory over Auburn Montgomery, the Flames let a lead slip away and lost in OT to West Alabama in the semifinals of the GSC Tournament. As expected, Lee received an at-large bid to the NCAA D2 National Regional, which was hosted by Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Flames dropped a 74-61 decision to GSC member West Georgia in the opening round of the regional. Jayce Willingham and PJay Smith were All-GSC selections.
The 2021-22 club posted an overall record of 19-9 and was 14-6 in GSC play. The Flames won five straight games, including three tough road wins, before falling to Union in the GSC Tournament semifinals. Lee was led by senior Quay Kennedy who tallied 14.2 ppg and six rpg. Kennedy poured in 39 points in pacing the Flames to a win at West Florida. It was the most points scored by a GSC player since February of 2014 and the most by a Lee player since the Flames became members of the NCAA and D2. Quay was named All-GSC and All-South Region. PJ Smith was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year. Mike McGuirk posted a 3.90 GPA and listed as one of the nine members of the GSC Winter All-Academic Team.
His 2020-21 team finished 15-6 overall and 13-4 in GSC play. The Flames won the program's first NCAA DII South Region Tournament game, a 72-69 victory over Georgia Southwestern. Lee posted eight consecutive wins, including back-to-back victories over powerhouse Valdosta State, before falling to rival Alabama Huntsville in GSC tournament and South Regional games.
Under Smith's leadership the 2019-2020 season was historic in many ways for the Flames. Lee went 22-7, the most wins since joining the NCAA. The Flames recorded the program's first GSC Tournament victory with an 81-57 victory over Auburn Montgomery in the GSC Quarterfinals as the No. 2 seed and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever as the No. 5 seed in the South Region.
Smith, who previously spent eight seasons building the Sewanee (University of the South) program into one of the top teams in NCAA Division III basketball, is the ninth head coach in the storied history of Lee basketball.
The Flames finished 15-14 overall during the 2018-19 campaign and were 12-8 in the Gulf South Conference standings. Lee traveled to Livingston, Ala. and faced West Alabama in the opening round of the GSC tournament and suffered a heart-breaking 74-69 overtime defeat.
For the four straight year Smith's club ranked first or second in the GSC on defense, allowing just 65.7 points per game. The Flames were best in the conference holding opponents to just 41 percent from the field and only 0.317 percent from 3-point range. The margins highlight his team’s commitment on the defensive side of the ball.
Smith, a graduate of Furman University, enjoyed a four-year basketball career with the Paladins. He was a four-year letterman and team captain during his junior and senior seasons.
His first head coaching opportunity came at Hampden-Sydney (Va.), a nationally recognized program and a member of the ODAC (Old Dominion Athletic Conference). After serving as an assistant for three years, he was named head coach in 2003 and remained in that position for five years. He became the first rookie coach to direct a D3 program to a No. 1 ranking.
Smith’s overall record at Hampden-Sydney was 93-45, including two ODAC Championships and two NCAA national tournament appearances.
The Hendersonville, Tenn. native moved closer to home in 2008 and took over a Sewanee basketball program that had struggled for years. Built on defense and rebounding, his 2011-12 squad was 11-2 at home, the school’s best home mark since 1998.
Smith was twice named the SAA (Southern Athletic Association) coach of the year. The Tigers recorded five straight winning seasons and in 2015-16 went 20-8 becoming only the fourth 20-win mark registered in Sewanee basketball history.
Smith resides in Cleveland with his wife Cortney and their four children, Isaac, Mary Brittain, Emma, and Izzy.
