Dr. Matthew Grimaldi, director of athletics at Keystone College, has announced the appointment of Nevada Smith, an Ithaca College assistant, as the College's new head men's basketball coach. The position became available after former head coach Jason Leone stepped down last month. Leone was named the new head coach for Oswego State.
 
“We are very excited to welcome Nevada to the department and the program,” stated Dr. Grimaldi.  “As a former Division III athlete himself, Nevada grasps the student-athlete philosophy that we strive to convey here at the College,” added Dr. Grimaldi. 
 
Coach Smith joins the Giants after spending the past five years as an assistant coach at Ithaca College. 
 
During his time at Ithaca, the Bombers saw their best five year stretch in program history, compiling a mark of 96-40, a period that saw the team claim three Empire 8 regular season championships in 2008, 2009 and 2011 and two NCAA Tournament berths in 2009 and 2011.  That timeframe also included an ECAC title in 2010 and five appearances in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament.

Coach Smith was involved in all aspects of the Ithaca program, including developing scouting reports on all opponents, the implementation of all offensive game plans and the development of the Bombers' perimeter players.  That hands on approach aided in the development of six First Team All-Empire 8 performers, three Empire 8 Players of the Year and three NABC All-Americans. 
 
The Bombers also set the program and Empire 8 record for points per game with an 88.5ppg average during his tenure.  Coach Smith was also responsible for recruiting the 2009-10 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in Sean Rossi.  Rossi has led the nation in assists in each of the last two seasons.
 
"We are going to play a fun style of basketball that showcases our player's strengths,” explained Coach Smith.  “I have been fortunate to work with some excellent basketball coaches that have prepared me for this opportunity. I am excited to be joining the Keystone family.  I hope to build on the success that Coach Leone has established over the past four years."
 
Coach Smith also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Ithaca's softball team; the Bombers advanced to the NCAA playoffs twice and finished fourth at the NCAA World Series in 2008.
 
Prior to joining Ithaca he was at Allegheny College where he was an assistant varsity coach and the Gators' head junior varsity coach for the 2005-06 season. Prior to his arrival at Allegheny, Coach Smith served as head coach at Canton for the 2004-05 season, coaching one All-Region and two All-Conference picks.  He also served as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence University from 2002-04, a stretch that saw the team compile a 34-18 mark, including a 2003-2004 UCAA Regular Season title. 

During his playing days, Coach Smith was a four-year starter at Bethany College, scoring 1,255 points to rank fifth on the program's all-time scoring list. He led the nation in three-point field goals per game in 2000-01 and his 313 career three-point baskets rank 13th among all NCAA Division III players. As a senior, Smith helped the Bisons to a school-record 21 wins and the program's first NCAA playoff appearance in 20 years. He also demonstrated his athletic ability on the links for Bethany as a three-year team captain and a Second Team All-PAC selection.
 
Coach Smith will inherit eight players from a Keystone squad that went 21-6 last season, and advanced to the conference semi-finals.  Leading the way for the Giants will be CSAC First Teamer Kenneth Hardnett, in addition to Honorable Mention selections Malcolm Boone and Mike Kelly.
 
A 2002 graduate of Bethany, Smith also earned a master's degree from St. Lawrence in 2004.