Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball
Smith, Jay
Jay Smith
- Title:
- Director of Player Development
Jay Smith is in his first season as Director of Player Development at EMU in the 2024-25 academic year, as announced June 10.
Smith, who is in his 39th season in collegiate basketball after he started his career at Kent State University in 1984, was most recently at the University of Michigan as Director of Player Personnel and Development as he and the staff compiled an 87-72 mark over the past five seasons.
Upon his hiring, Head Coach Stan Heath said, “Jay brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our basketball program. He’s coached at a high level, and he’s worked with many professionals over the years. He’s an outstanding coach and a guy who’s going to spend a lot of time with player development. We’re excited to bring Jay on board and he’s going to be a big asset to our success.”
Smith, who is originally from Mio, Mich., was Head Coach at Kalamazoo College from 2016-19, at Central Michigan University from 1997-2006, and at Grand Valley State University from 1996-97. Smith was also an Assistant Coach at the University of Detroit Mercy from 2008-16, for the Wolverines from 1989-96, and with the Golden Flashes from 1984-89.
Winner of the 2001 and 2003 Mid-American Conference titles at CMU, Smith also played a key role in recruiting Michigan’s “Fab Five,” as part of six NCAA Tournament trips in his first stint in Ann Arbor. Smith also helped Detroit Mercy to the NCAA Tournament in 2012, as well as GVSU to a regular season and tournament championship in 1996-97.
Smith graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in 1984 with a degree in Physical Education and minor in Business before earning a Master’s in Sport Management from Kent State in 1986.
The 1979 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner scored 2,841 points at Mio AuSable High School, a record that still stands today.
Smith, who is in his 39th season in collegiate basketball after he started his career at Kent State University in 1984, was most recently at the University of Michigan as Director of Player Personnel and Development as he and the staff compiled an 87-72 mark over the past five seasons.
Upon his hiring, Head Coach Stan Heath said, “Jay brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our basketball program. He’s coached at a high level, and he’s worked with many professionals over the years. He’s an outstanding coach and a guy who’s going to spend a lot of time with player development. We’re excited to bring Jay on board and he’s going to be a big asset to our success.”
Smith, who is originally from Mio, Mich., was Head Coach at Kalamazoo College from 2016-19, at Central Michigan University from 1997-2006, and at Grand Valley State University from 1996-97. Smith was also an Assistant Coach at the University of Detroit Mercy from 2008-16, for the Wolverines from 1989-96, and with the Golden Flashes from 1984-89.
Winner of the 2001 and 2003 Mid-American Conference titles at CMU, Smith also played a key role in recruiting Michigan’s “Fab Five,” as part of six NCAA Tournament trips in his first stint in Ann Arbor. Smith also helped Detroit Mercy to the NCAA Tournament in 2012, as well as GVSU to a regular season and tournament championship in 1996-97.
Smith graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in 1984 with a degree in Physical Education and minor in Business before earning a Master’s in Sport Management from Kent State in 1986.
The 1979 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner scored 2,841 points at Mio AuSable High School, a record that still stands today.
| The Jay Smith File | ||
| Name: | Jay Smith | |
| High School: | Mio AuSable High School - Mio, Mich. | |
| College: | Saginaw Valley State University - Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education - 1984 | |
| Kent State University - Master’s degree in Sport Management - 1986 | ||
| Family: | Wife - Tymi; Son - Cooper, Daughter - Cazzi | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2024-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Director of Player Development |
| 2019-24 | University of Michigan | Director of Player Personnel and Development |
| 2016-19 | Kalamazoo College | Head Coach |
| 2008-16 | University of Detroit Mercy | Assistant Coach |
| 1997-2006 | Central Michigan University | Head Coach |
| 1996-97 | Grand Valley State University | Head Coach |
| 1989-96 | University of Michigan | Assistant Coach |
| 1989-96 | Kent State University | Assistant Coach |
| 1981-83 | Saginaw Valley State University | Student-Athlete |
| 1979-80 | Bowling Green State University | Student-Athlete |
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