University of Memphis Athletics
Men's Basketball
Smith, Nolan
Nolan Smith
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Nolan Smith was named an assistant coach for Memphis in September 2024 after spending the previous two seasons at the University of Louisville.
A former All-American, national champion and NBA Draft pick, Smith joined the Louisville staff in April 2022 under then head coach Kenny Payne.
Prior to UofL, Smith was a member of the men's basketball staff at his alma mater Duke for the previous six seasons. He served as an assistant coach at Duke in 2021-22 after previously working as the Blue Devils’ director of basketball operations and player development for three seasons (2018-21), as well as two years as the team’s special assistant (2016-18).
A consensus first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year in 2011, Smith helped lead Duke to three consecutive ACC championships (2009-11) and the 2010 NCAA title in his four seasons (2007-11). The two-time All-ACC selection (2010-11) led the ACC in scoring as a senior (20.6 ppg) when he was team captain and the 2011 ACC Tournament MVP. His 764 points that year is the ninth-highest total in program history.
He helped Duke bring home the 2010 NCAA Championship while earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the NCAA South Regional in Houston and All-Final Four Team accolades in Indianapolis. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native ranks 17th on Duke’s career scoring chart with 1,911 points and helped lead the Blue Devils to a combined 121-22 record, the fifth-most victories for a player at Duke and sixth in ACC history. Duke had a collective 65-2 record (.970) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in his career there to set program records for both home wins and winning percentage in a four-year period.
Smith won an international gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, averaging 9.0 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Following his graduation, Smith was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 21st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He played four seasons in professional basketball in the NBA, G-League and abroad.
In the summer of 2016, Smith was named the North Carolina state ambassador for Teen Cancer America. TCA is an organization designed to help bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care. In addition to his work with TCA, Smith has invested time in raising awareness of social justice issues and was named a George H.W. Bush Points of Light Inspiration honoree in 2020. He was also recognized as the Tar Heel of the Month in October 2020 by the Raleigh News & Observer, awarded to a citizen that has made significant contributions to North Carolina and the region.
Smith and his wife Cheyna have a young daughter, Camryn, and a young son, Derek.
Nolan Smith Coaching Career
2016-18 Special Assistant, Duke
2018-21 Director of Basketball Operations & Player Development, Duke
2021-22 Assistant Coach, Duke
2022-24 Assistant Coach, Louisville
A former All-American, national champion and NBA Draft pick, Smith joined the Louisville staff in April 2022 under then head coach Kenny Payne.
Prior to UofL, Smith was a member of the men's basketball staff at his alma mater Duke for the previous six seasons. He served as an assistant coach at Duke in 2021-22 after previously working as the Blue Devils’ director of basketball operations and player development for three seasons (2018-21), as well as two years as the team’s special assistant (2016-18).
A consensus first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year in 2011, Smith helped lead Duke to three consecutive ACC championships (2009-11) and the 2010 NCAA title in his four seasons (2007-11). The two-time All-ACC selection (2010-11) led the ACC in scoring as a senior (20.6 ppg) when he was team captain and the 2011 ACC Tournament MVP. His 764 points that year is the ninth-highest total in program history.
He helped Duke bring home the 2010 NCAA Championship while earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the NCAA South Regional in Houston and All-Final Four Team accolades in Indianapolis. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native ranks 17th on Duke’s career scoring chart with 1,911 points and helped lead the Blue Devils to a combined 121-22 record, the fifth-most victories for a player at Duke and sixth in ACC history. Duke had a collective 65-2 record (.970) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in his career there to set program records for both home wins and winning percentage in a four-year period.
Smith won an international gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, averaging 9.0 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Following his graduation, Smith was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 21st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He played four seasons in professional basketball in the NBA, G-League and abroad.
In the summer of 2016, Smith was named the North Carolina state ambassador for Teen Cancer America. TCA is an organization designed to help bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care. In addition to his work with TCA, Smith has invested time in raising awareness of social justice issues and was named a George H.W. Bush Points of Light Inspiration honoree in 2020. He was also recognized as the Tar Heel of the Month in October 2020 by the Raleigh News & Observer, awarded to a citizen that has made significant contributions to North Carolina and the region.
Smith and his wife Cheyna have a young daughter, Camryn, and a young son, Derek.
Nolan Smith Coaching Career
2016-18 Special Assistant, Duke
2018-21 Director of Basketball Operations & Player Development, Duke
2021-22 Assistant Coach, Duke
2022-24 Assistant Coach, Louisville
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