STOCKTON, Calif.—University of the Pacific has hired Dave Smart as the coach to rebuild its men’s basketball program, Athletic Director Adam Tschuour said Wednesday.
Mr. Smart served as an assistant coach at Texas Tech this season but was formerly a highly successful head coach in Canada, going 591–48 and winning 13 national championships in 19 seasons at Carleton University in Ottawa.
Mr. Smart, 57, is taking over a program that went 6–26 overall and finished last in the West Coast Conference at 0–16 this season. The Tigers lost their final 17 games.
Pacific parted ways with third-year Coach Leonard Perry, who finished with a 29–65 record, prior to getting routed by Pepperdine 102–43 in the first round of the WCC Tournament.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to lead the Tigers into a new era,” Mr. Smart said in a news release. “Adam and President [Christopher] Callahan have an ambitious and exciting vision for the program, and I thank them for entrusting me with the task of bringing that vision to life. I also want to thank [Coach Grant McCasland] and everyone else at Texas Tech for the opportunity they gave me last season, which was a tremendous experience.”
Mr. McCasland and Mr. Smart helped the Red Raiders go 23–11 in the former’s first season as the head coach. Texas Tech lost to North Carolina State 80–67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Pacific hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013.
“I could not be more excited to have Coach Smart join our Tigers family and lead our men’s basketball program,” Mr. Tschuor said in the news release. “He is one of the most respected basketball minds in the world and someone who will not only show his energy and enthusiasm on the sidelines but in the community as well.”
