Former Kentucky starter Saul Smith named assistant coach on Golden Eagle staff
It took a little longer than planned, and the trail that led him to Cookeville has some added twists, but Saul Smith is finally a part of the Tennessee Tech basketball program.
It took a little longer than planned, and the trail that led him to Cookeville has some added twists, but Saul Smith is finally a part of the Tennessee Tech basketball program.
Smith was named this week as an assistant coach on Mike
Sutton's Golden Eagle basketball coaching staff.
After nearly signing at Tech out of high school, Smith instead
wound up being a starting guard for the University of Kentucky
Wildcats. Sutton was an assistant coach on that UK staff and worked
with Saul, and is excited about the opportunity to add him to the
Tech coaching staff.
"I've know Saul a long time. He's a first-class person and I'm excited to have someone of his caliber join our staff," Sutton said. "He was an outstanding collegiate player, he has played professionally, and he began in coaching at the University of Kentucky. His experience will lend a great deal to our program.
"I am also impressed by how excited Saul is about the opportunity to coach, and to come to Tennessee Tech," Sutton added. "In some ways, this is a homecoming for him because he was recruited here and he's familiar with the area and the school."
With the Golden Eagles, Smith will be involved in all phases of the game including player development, recruiting, organization, on floor-coaching and academics, according to Sutton.
"I've known from a very young age that I've wanted to coach," said Smith, the middle son of one of college basketball's coaching legends, Tubby Smith. "Even back in basketball camps, I used to try to coach my friends.
"I'm especially excited to be at Tennessee Tech," Smith added. "The Tech coaching staff - coach Frank Harrell and coach Kevin Bray -- recruited me out of high school, and I had my choices narrowed to Tech and the University of Georgia."
Smith's final decision placed him at Georgia, where his father was head coach, and both eventually moved on to Kentucky. Saul lettered four years and helped lead the Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA National Championship. Sutton was an assistant coach on those UK teams, continuing his long-time coaching partnership with Tubby Smith.
"His familiarity with our program will help," Sutton said. "Frank and Kevin and the people in the basketball program years ago did a good job of exposing him to the university when he was a high school recruit. It came down to two schools and a decision whether he was going to play at Tennessee Tech or play for his father.
"He made a good choice then, and we think he has made a good choice now."
Smith played four years at Kentucky and started at point guard for the Wildcats in each of his final two seasons. He was part of winning three SEC Championships, three SEC Tournament titles and one NCAA national championship.
While helping the Wildcats claim the 1998 NCAA title, he also climbed to ninth all-time at UK in career assists (363) and 11th in steals (152). He was twice named to the SEC Good Works team while at Kentucky.
After his Kentucky career, Smith was invited to the Houston Rockets summer camp, then spent two years playing for the NBDL's Columbus Riverdragons.
Smith spent last year on the staff at Kentucky while completing his bachelor's degree in economics. At UK, he was involved with several aspects of the Wildcat program last season working primarily with the guards, including Gerald Fitch ad Cliff Hawkins.
"I'm also excited to be back with coach Sutton," Smith said. "I grew up knowing him because of his association with my father. He has a great basketball mind, and I'm looking forward to working with him and learning from him.
"I'm also familiar with Cookeville and Tennessee Tech," Smith added. "Not only did they recruit me, by my brother (G.G. Smith) coached here. I've been here for games, I know a lot of the players, and this was a very easy and comfortable decision. I know exactly what to expect."
Sutton sees a smooth transition into a coaching career for Smith.
"Saul has already been at a level where most players aspire to be, playing for the Houston Rockets summer league and two seasons professionally, and playing on a national championship team," Sutton said. "Not many players reach those levels. It's not an easy road to take, and that's an asset for him. He was an outstanding player and a great competitor, and those characteristics will also come through in his coaching.
"He has an outstanding pedigree if you look at his playing background and his coaching background, and we're excited to have him as part of our staff," Sutton said.
