He’s been the architect of Marquette men’s basketball’s picturesque offense.
The deadly pick-and-rolls. The dynamic cuts and slashes to increase spacing on the floor. The deletion of the mid-range shot in favor of a high volume of 3-pointers and layups.
For the last five years, assistant coach and offensive guru Nevada Smith was behind Marquette’s NBA-style attack. Now, he is taking his unique mind to Siena for his first Division I college basketball head coaching opportunity, the Saints announced Wednesday. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein first reported the news.
Sources: Marquette’s Nevada Smith has agreed in principle to be the next head coach at Siena.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 1, 2026
While a spokesperson for Marquette athletics did not originally confirm Smith’s departure, the university listed a men’s basketball assistant coach job offering to its employment website shortly after the reports surfaced.
“My family and I could not be more excited to arrive in the Capital Region and become a part of the Siena community,” Smith said in a release from Sienna athletics. “I am honored and humbled to be able to lead this program, and build upon the momentum created by Gerry McNamara, his staff and the great players who have proudly worn the Siena jersey throughout the years.
“I would like to thank President Seifert, John D’Argenio, and the search committee for having the trust in me to lead this storied program. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart hired Smith as director of program development at Texas after a recommendation from Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. After one season with the Longhorns, Smith followed Smart to Marquette as a special assistant to the head coach, a position he held for two seasons before becoming a full-fledged assistant.
With the help of Smith, the Golden Eagles’ offense flowed like the Milwaukee River.
For three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-25, Marquette was top 35 in offensive efficiency on basketball statistics website KenPom.com — at one point it even had the best offense in the country. When players — including, but not limited to, Tyler Kolek and Ben Gold — needed help fixing their jumpers, they would call Smith, the team’s resident shot doctor. Even last season, despite the Golden Eagles’ tendency to miss a majority of their looks, their sets would still lead to high-quality shots.
While it is his first time at the helm of a Division I college basketball team, Smith has NCAA Division III and professional head coaching experience, leading the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce from 2016-19 and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2013-15.
This story was updated to include a statement from Smith.
This story was written by Jack Albright. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU.
