Former Hoosier Legend Keith Smart Hired as Assistant at Arkansas

Keith Smart has played for and coached with Arkansas coach Eric Musselman, and the two were reunited on Wednesday when Smart was hires as a Razorbacks assistant coach.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's Keith Smart, the legend known for making the game-winning shot in the 1987 NCAA Tournament championship game, has been hired by the University of Arkansas as an assistant basketbll coach.

Smart, who was a serious candidate for the recent opening at Indiana, has a long history with Arkansas coach Eric Musselman. He played for Musselman in the CBA and was an assistant on Musselman's staff with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.

“I am excited to be reunited with Coach Musselman, a person I’ve known for over 30 years, and to continue my growth as a basketball coach,” Smart said. “I cannot think of a better place than with Coach Musselman and at the University of Arkansas. By becoming a Razorback, my basketball life is somewhat coming full circle as Coach (Nolan) Richardson recruited me.

“In addition to playing for and working with Coach Muss, I have kept in close contact with him over the years, sharing ideas and strategies,” Smart said. “I know what he is teaching, and I know his expectations. I am thrilled to join the Arkansas family, to develop our players and to build on the solid foundation that has been laid here.”

Musselman is thrilled with the hire, too. 

“What an incredible opportunity for our players to be mentored and coached by coach Smart,” Musselman said. “His coaching experience is unmatched, being a three-time NBA head coach. His playing experience includes him hitting one of the most clutch shots in the history of college basketball and playing at the highest level professionally. Keith is someone I coached and thought so much of his knowledge of the game I hired him at Golden State. We are getting an incredible coach. He knows how to develop talent and is an excellent ‘X and O’ coach. Our players are going to love Coach Smart.

“I am really excited about the experience and chemistry this staff, with coaches Smart, (Gus) Argenal and (Clay) Moser, will bring,” Musselman added.

Here is the official release from the University of Arkansas:

Keith Smart hires as assistant basketball coach

FAYETTEVILLE – Keith Smart, an NBA head coach for three franchises and known for making one of the most iconic shots in NCAA Championship history, has been named men’s basketball assistant coach at the University of Arkansas, Razorback head coach Eric Musselman announced.

Smart has a long history with Musselman both as a player with the Rapid City Thrillers and Florida Beachdogs and as an assistant coach on Musselman’s staff with the Golden State Warriors. Overall, Smart spent nine years playing professional basketball and 22 years coaching in professional basketball, including head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State and Sacramento Kings as well as assistant positions with the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Kings, Warriors and Cavaliers. He got his start in the coaching business as head coach of the Fort Wayne Fury of the CBA in 1997.

“What an incredible opportunity for our players to be mentored and coached by coach Smart,” Musselman said. “His coaching experience is unmatched, being a three-time NBA head coach. His playing experience includes him hitting one of the most clutch shots in the history of college basketball and playing at the highest level professionally. Keith is someone I coached and thought so much of his knowledge of the game I hired him at Golden State. We are getting an incredible coach. He knows how to develop talent and is an excellent ‘X and O’ coach. Our players are going to love Coach Smart.

“I am really excited about the experience and chemistry this staff, with coaches Smart, (Gus) Argenal and (Clay) Moser, will bring,” Musselman added.

Smart burst onto the national scene after making the game-winning shot for Indiana in the 1987 NCAA Championship versus Syracuse. Overall, he played two seasons with the Hoosiers (1986-88), was drafted in the second round by the Golden State Warriors in 1988 and played with the San Antonio Spurs (1988).

“I am excited to be reunited with Coach Musselman, a person I’ve known for over 30 years, and to continue my growth as a basketball coach,” Smart said. “I cannot think of a better place than with Coach Musselman and at the University of Arkansas. By becoming a Razorback, my basketball life is somewhat coming full circle as Coach (Nolan) Richardson recruited me.

“In addition to playing for and working with Coach Muss, I have kept in close contact with him over the years, sharing ideas and strategies,” Smart said. “I know what he is teaching, and I know his expectations. I am thrilled to join the Arkansas family, to develop our players and to build on the solid foundation that has been laid here.”

After his time with the Spurs, Smart played nine seasons of professional basketball in the CBA and internationally. It was after his final stop – the Fort Wayne Fury – Smart made the transition from player one year to head coach the next with the Fury. In his first year (1997-98), Fort Wayne was 31-25 and won the CBA’s East Division. The Fury were 28-28 in year two and 26-30 in year three. A CBA-high, 21 players from Fort Wayne signed NBA contracts during Smart’s three seasons a head coach.

From Fort Wayne, Smart began his NBA coaching career with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2000-01 season. After two-plus years as an assistant with the Cavs, Smart was named Cleveland’s interim head coach for the final 40 games of the 2002-03 campaign. At the time, Smart was the second-youngest head coach in the NBA, trailing only Musselman.

Smart then joined Musselman as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors for the 2003-04 season. After one season with Musselman, Smart stayed on as an assistant with the Warriors for two seasons under Mike Montgomery and an additional four seasons under Don Nelson. Prior to the 2010-11 season, Nelson stepped down and Smart was named head coach, leading the Warriors to 36 wins – a 10-game improvement over the previous season.

After his time with the Warriors, Smart was brought on by the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach for the 2011-12 season. Seven games into that year, the Kings made a coaching change and Smart was named head coach, posting a 20-39 record. He stayed on as head coach the following season (2012-13).

In 2014, Smart was hired as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat by Eric Spoelstra. In year two with the Heat, Miami won the Southeast Division and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. From there, Smart spent two seasons (2016-18) as an assistant coach under David Fizdale with the Memphis Grizzlies. He then went to serve on Fizdale’s staff with the New York Knicks for the 2018-19 season.

Smart, who was the 1987 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, scored 765 points in two seasons at Indiana and is a member of the Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2017). Prior to Indiana, he played two seasons at Garden City (Kan.) CC where he earned Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year honors.

He received his Bachelor of General Studies from Indiana in 1995. He and his wife Carol have two sons, Andre and Jared. Jared is currently a senior at Hawai’i and earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors in 2020 as a wide receiver.