NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Nolan Smith walked into his introductory press conference with confidence as big as his smile.
Tennessee State University selected Smith as the next head coach of the men’s basketball program.
He replaces Brian “Penny” Collins, who left TSU after seven seasons to accept a coaching position in the NBA.
Smith brings a wealth of experience to the Big Blue program from his playing days and coaching career.
Tennessee State got a good one… @TSU_Tigers introduced Nolan Smith as the new men’s basketball head coach today. Smith takes over @TSUTigersMBB after assistant coaching stints at Duke, Louisville, and Memphis.
(I even overlapped with him covering Duke in my time in NC!) pic.twitter.com/3PhBvF2AmZ
— Lauren Walsh (@lauwalsh10) July 21, 2025
As a player, Smith starred for Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. He finished his career as one of the most decorated guards in Duke history, winning a national title with the Blue Devils in 2010. He was named the South Regional Most Outstanding Player and earned All-Final Four honors during that run.
In his senior year in 2011, Smith averaged 20.6 points per game, led the ACC in scoring, and was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, and a consensus First-Team All-American. He finished his collegiate career with 1,911 points, ranking 17th all-time in Duke history.
“I’m so happy for Nolan and his beautiful family,” Krzyzewski said. “Nolan was an All-American and a national champion at Duke. He was a joy to coach, and our fans loved him — they called him ‘The People’s Champ.’ He was also an exceptional assistant coach. Now, he’s ready to be an exceptional head coach at Tennessee State. I’m incredibly proud of him.”
Smith was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played two seasons in the NBA before continuing his professional career in the NBA G League and overseas, including stops in Croatia and Turkey.
Then, he began his coaching career as an assistant for Duke under “Coach K.” He spent six seasons in that role before joining his hometown program, Louisville, as an assistant. He most recently served as an assistant coach on Penny Hardaway’s staff at Memphis.
“If anyone is deserving of this position, it’s Nolan,” Memphis head men’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway said on Smith’s hire at TSU. “He is prepared and ready for the job. Nolan’s time at Memphis was short, but he made a huge impact on our program. I’m very confident he will do the same at TSU.”
Smith beamed over the opportunity to lead the TSU Tigers in his first head coaching gig.
“First of all, this year’s team and what they have going for them already, with the potential to win a championship and joining that, and helping build a championship here [is what drew me to the job],” Smith said. “But then just, coming to an HBCU, that challenge in itself is something that I’ve never ran from. I love a challenge. I want to reach out to my network and bring something special to this campus and to this school and to the city.”
Smith proudly stated the program’s goal to win championships, and he has the experience to create that culture.
“I want to pass on my obsession with winning to these young men, and it’s on and off the court,” Smith said. “I think when you have that fire to win, and you pass it onto them, you’re going to see that fire from this year’s team that’s going to be a little bit different. It’s going to be a little bit different that they’re going to have that look in their eyes that they’re going to want to hang a banner in the Gentry Center and do something special.”
Tennessee State is coming off a 17–16 season, featuring a 12–8 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.
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