Three biggest takeaways from Kyle Smith's introductory press conference as Stanford's new basketball coach

Kevin Borba | Mar 28, 2024

Mar 20, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Kyle Smith talks with the media / Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

PALO ALTO- There was a buzz in the Kissick Auditorium inside Arrillaga Family Sports Center at Stanford on Wednesday, as a new era of Stanford Cardinal basketball was officially beginning.

The Cardinal are fresh off of a 14-18 season and have already had three star players enter the transfer portal in Maxime Raynaud, Andrej Stojakovic, and Kanaan Carlyle. However, there was a breath of fresh air as new head coach Kyle Smith took the podium. The former Columbia, San Francisco, and Washington State head coach assured everyone in attendance multiple times that this was his dream job. A job he took right after leading Washington State to a NCAA Tournament appearance, and being named Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Also, a job that made him emotional when talking about the available resources Stanford has for his 13-year-old son Bo, who has autism.

It's a tall task ahead of him rebuilding this program, which has gone a decade without an NCAA Tournament appearance but Smith appears to be ready and excited for the challenge. He was poked and prodded about everything from his Washington State squad, the move to the ACC, and even about how much of a nerd he is.

He definitely has instilled confidence in the fan base already, and former athletes already seem to love him with multiple former Cardinal athletes telling me that the program is now in the right hands. While there was a lot to take in, here are my three biggest takeaways from Smith's introductory press conference.

Mar 14, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Kyle Smith reacts in the first / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford really was his dream job

It is very rare that a new coach takes a job and doesn't call it a dream job, but Kyle Smith seemed truly passionate about the job and the program. He even went as far as to say that he had been dreaming about this job during his days at Columbia back in 2010-16. He even said he envisions it as a Duke-like program.

“You can be so good here. You attract the people you attract here. You can be great. You’ve got to sell it and believe in it, and you don’t understand, those people are elite. They’re workers. They’re achievers. ... It’s easy for me to believe that. I’ve been saying it for 30 years so I’d better back it up.”

His analytical approach fits the Stanford mold immensely, as he has a method that he refers to as "Nerdball" which consists of 60 metrics that make up HPPP — Hustle Points Per Possession. The way in which he measures how players perform during practices and games.

Mar 14, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) is introduced before / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

He has a different approach to recruiting

It's not to say that he won't be targeting top recruits when he has a full year to identify talent, but he did mention that he plans to take a look at the international ranks. A strategy that programs such as Gonzaga and Arizona have both had success with as of late, and one that could help Stanford take that next level by bringing in players with pro experience overseas.

“You have to cast a wide global net and really identify the guys that can play, that have the academic credentials,” he said. “They’re there. You have to work at it.”

His analytical prowess may also help him identify under-the-radar recruits that can really boost Stanford, like the players he has at Washington State. He stated he wants six-tool players, which would make for a very skilled team and could lead to better chemistry and production for the Cardinal who often have roles that they needed to stick to.

Mar 2, 2024; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Kyle Smith looks on / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

He has that "it" factor

Not sure what the right word would be to describe the new coach, and that will likely come with more time around him, but he brings a sort of grit and confidence to the table that instills confidence. The more he spoke, the more the boosters in the room got excited. Everything he said was the right thing, but it was obvious that he meant every word he said. Whether it was about him saying this has been the best job in the country for the past 30 years, saying he wants the players who want to be here and at one point said "who cares" when discussing players in the portal, or the fact that he is adamant about bringing the passion back to Palo Alto. The program had more buzz around it on a Wednesday afternoon than it has in a few years now. Smith is still a ways away from coaching his first game, holding his first practice, and maybe even knowing who is on the roster but it was clear that Stanford got this hire right.