Andre Smith was named the first men’s basketball coach for Lourdes University in 2009 charged with beginning the Gray Wolves’ program from scratch for the 2010-2011 season. He was also named athletic director at Lourdes on June 1, 2012.
Smith enters 2014-2015, his fourth season at the helm, with a record of 67-59, both at Lourdes and in his collegiate coaching career.
The 2012-2013 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Smith led the Gray Wolves to a school-record 22 victories and a third place finish in the league that same season. Lourdes earned an at-large bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, falling in overtime in the first round after making its second straight appearance in the championship event.
In 2011-2012, Smith guided the Gray Wolves to a runner-up finish in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament and the squad earned one of the league’s automatic bids to the NAIA Division II National Tournament in just the program’s second season overall and first in conference play.
Smith’s players have earned an abundance of honors during the program’s short history. He has guided two First Team and another Third Team All-WHAC selections as well as an Honorable Mention All-WHAC pick. Two players have been named to the WHAC All-Defensive Team during his tenure, as well as two players earning All-Newcomer Team accolades.
While at Lourdes Smith’s student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom. Three players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team honors while five players have earned WHAC All-Academic Team honors. Two individuals have been named a NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Prior to arriving at Lourdes, Smith spent three seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa. He also had two years of experience as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Thiel.
Smith was the head coach and general manager of the International Basketball League’s Mahoning Valley Wildcats, leading the team to a 15-5 mark. His squad had three league All-Stars as well as a Most Valuable Player candidate. He also was the head coach of the Croatian national basketball team for two seasons, leading them to a 45-10 record. Smith also served as an assistant coach at Youngstown State during his early days of coaching.
As a player, Smith played professionally both in the United States from 1997-1999 in the Continental Basketball Association as well internationally in Europe for six years.
He began his collegiate career at Lakeland College in Illinois where he was the fourth leading scorer in the nation as a sophomore averaging 27.6 points per game. He was named a Second Team Junior College All-American and was listed by NCAA Hoops as one of the nation’s top junior college players.
Smith continued his playing career at Youngstown State University where he led the Penguins in scoring, steals, and assists. He was named to the Mid-Continent Conference All-Newcomer Team as a junior and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player during both seasons at Youngstown State. He finished fourth in the conference in scoring.
A prep player at Thomas Carr Howe High School in Indianapolis, Ind., Smith was the all-time leading scorer upon his graduation, a mark that stood until 2008. He was also an All-City, and All-Sectional performer.
Smith is a 1997 graduate of Youngstown State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in education.
