Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team has announced the addition of Jay Smith to its coaching staff. Smith will serve as Assistant Coach and Player Development, a role confirmed by Head Coach Stan Heath on June 10.
Smith brings extensive experience to the position, having been involved in collegiate basketball for 39 years. His most recent tenure was at the University of Michigan, where he served as Director of Player Personnel and Development. During his time there, the team achieved an 87-72 record over five seasons.
"Jay brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our basketball program," said Heath. "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's career includes head coaching positions at Kalamazoo College, Central Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University. He also held assistant coaching roles at the University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan, and Kent State University.
"I want to thank Head Coach Stan Heath and Eastern Michigan University for this opportunity and look forward to working with our student-athletes and staff," Smith stated. "I've had the privilege of knowing Stan for thirty years and I am excited to be on the same team after coaching against him for many years."
Smith has been part of significant achievements in his career, including winning two Mid-American Conference titles at CMU in 2001 and 2003. He was instrumental in recruiting Michigan's "Fab Five" during six NCAA Tournament appearances in Ann Arbor.
A graduate from Saginaw Valley State University with a degree in Physical Education, Smith also holds a Master's degree in Sport Management from Kent State.
In addition to Smith's appointment, Carlos McMath has joined EMU as Director of Operations alongside fourth-year assistants Bob Simon, Drew Denisco, and Shawn Trice.
Season tickets for Eastern Michigan University's basketball games are currently available through their ticket office or online.
For more updates on EMU Eagles' activities, fans can visit EMUEagles.com or follow them on social media platforms like Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
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