News broke that Nolan Smith is likely landing the Tennessee State Head Coach spot for his first lead role. This comes from Jon Rothstein. Smith had a great playing career at Duke and has been slowly climbing the coaching ranks at some high major programs. Now, he looks for a head role.
Nolan Smith Likely to be Named Next Head Coach at Tennessee State
Playing Career
Nolan Smith played in 143 games for the Duke Blue Devils from 2007-2011 and capped it off with a National Championship in his junior season. He was a consensus All-American his senior year while averaging 20.6 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, and 4.5 rebounds per game. He was also ACC Player of the Year that same year.
Smith then went on to be the 21st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft to the Portland Trailblazers where he played 2 NBA seasons. He then bounced around the NBA D-League and international stops before heading back to Durham to become part of the Duke staff for Coach K.
Coaching Career
Smith officially joined the Duke staff in 2016 as a special assistant to Coach K. He learned in this role for 2 seasons before being named Director of Basketball Operations. He held down that role for 3 years where he played a key role in recruiting which has been a major bright spot for the Duke Blue Devils. Given his success in the DOBO role, he was elevated to assistant coach in 2021 for Coach K’s final season. After the season, Nolan Smith left Durham as Jon Scheyer was elevated to Head Coach.
Smith took his talents to Louisville to join Kenny Payne’s coaching staff as a highly-paid assistant. He was looking to carve out a name for himself away from the Brotherhood in Durham. Louisville struggled mightily for two seasons and Payne was ultimately dismissed which left the staff in dismay.
Then, in 2024, Smith headed to Memphis to join Penny Hardaway’s staff. The Tigers had a solid season and Smith was an integral part in creating a talented roster. He can recruit in high school ranks and in the transfer portal.
Tennessee State: Next Stop?
Smith now is expected to be named the next head coach at Tennessee State. The Tigers finished last season with a record of 17-16 including a semifinals loss in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Tigers have not made it to the NCAA Tournament since the 1993-94 season so Smith would certainly have his work cut out.
Sources: Memphis’ Nolan Smith is finalizing a deal to be the next head coach at Tennessee State.
Nothing is officially done, but the two sides are working towards an agreement.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2025
Nolan Smith is a connector. He is known for his energy/charisma and his ability to connect with the current generation of players. He also has deep ties to the DMV as he spent a lot of his high school playing years in the area playing for national powerhouses. Smith also has been around elite recruiters in Jon Scheyer, Mike Krzyzewski, and Penny Hardaway. Therefore, he certainly knows how to construct a roster.
Being a new coach is always difficult but Smith has earned a shot. He is a very well-known name with a ton of energy and that works in today’s game. While the early success may be fleeting, Tennessee State can be elevated with this hiring. This is also a school that saw success after hiring Eddie George to lead their football team.
Smith also has done extensive work in every community he has been in. Joining a powerful HBCU like TSU gives him even more of a chance to further his community.
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