Wichita State Athletics

Devon Smith, a former Director of Basketball Operations at Louisville and an Ohio State graduate, embarks on his ninth season as Wichita State's manager of player development in 2018-19.

Smith's role includes a wide variety of tasks and special projects essential to the program's success. In addition to the preparation of scouting reports and film, Smith is also responsible for coordination of training schedules and team meals.

Smith's time at WSU has coincided with one of the most successful periods in school history.

WSU spent the entire 2017-18 season in the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 3 in the AP Poll. The Shockers finished runner-up in the American Athletic Conference regular season standings and their NCAA Tournament No. 4 seed was the second-highest in school history.

Despite heavy losses in the backcourt, the 2016-17 Shockers reached the 30-win mark for the third time in four seasons, finishing 31-5. They swept the Missouri Valley Conference's regular season and tournament crowns and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament

The 2015-16 Shockers went 26-9, won their fourth Missouri Valley Conference title in five years, and posted NCAA Tournament wins over Vanderbilt (First Four) and Arizona (First Round).

In 2014-15, the Shocker reached 30-wins for the third-consecutive year and went 17-1 in conference play. In the NCAA Tournament, WSU took down traditional powers Indiana and Kansas to earn a trip to the Sweet 16.

In 2013-14, Wichita State recorded the first 35-0 start to a season in NCAA history before losing to eventual National Runner-up Kentucky in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Shockers' 35-1 record also shattered all of WSU's and the MVC's winning streak records, including Indiana State's 33-game record in 1977.

The Shockers won their second Valley regular-season title (18-0) in three seasons and won the MVC Tournament in St. Louis for the first time since the tournament went to a neutral site. The tournament title was the first for WSU since winning it in 1987 on Tulsa's home floor.

The Shockers were ranked in the Top 25 all season, also a first for WSU, and reached the No. 2 spot for the first time since the 1981-82 season. The Shockers' No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament was also a first.

Smith was also on staff during the 2012-13 season when WSU made its first Final Four appearance since 1965 as a No. 9 seed, defeating No. 8 Pittsburgh, No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga, No. 13 La Salle and No. 2 Ohio State, before losing to eventual National Champion Louisville in the National Semifinal game in Atlanta. The voters in the USA Today Coaches poll rewarded the Shockers with a final No. 4 ranking, their highest final ranking ever.

Smith came to WSU from Champions Academy in Indianapolis, Ind. where, under the direction of Ed Schilling, he provided individual skill instruction to college and professional players, including 2010 NBA lottery selections Gordon Hayward and Patrick Patterson.  

Prior to that, Smith worked as the top assistant to former Louisville great Wiley Brown at Indiana Southeast, and helped lead the team to consecutive conference championships and national tournament appearances.

During his term at the University of Louisville and under the tutelage of Rick Pitino, the Cardinals finished second in the Big East conference and advanced to the second round of the 2007 NCAA tournament.  

At Oakland University (Mich), Smith helped the Grizzlies to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance and victory under Coach Greg Kampe and also helped land the No. 1 recruiting class in the conference by HoopScoop.com. The Rochester, Mich. school in also won the 2005 Mid-Continent Tournament Championship and won an NCAA Tournament opening round game that season.

Smith also played and assisted Coach Jim O'Brien at The Ohio State University.  In his junior season, the Buckeyes completed the nation's best turnaround en route to a 27-9 record and a 1999 Final Four appearance.  In 2000, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten Championship and were as high as No. 4 in the AP Top 25.  

In returning to work on the Ohio State staff, the Buckeyes advanced to the Big Ten Championship game in 2003.  

With a degree in communications, Smith has also worked as on-air talent both for ESPN and Fox Sports Net.

His start in coaching came from the legendary Howard Garfinkel, who at Five-Star Camps has placed more than 300 college and NBA coaches into the profession. He also coached at the ABCD and Duke camps as well.  

Smith prepped at Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Va and played for 40-year coaching great Fletcher Arritt. Smith helped his 1994-95 team produce a 25-4 record.