G. G. Smith
Guffrie Gibson Smith (born January 14, 1977)[1][2] is an American college basketball coach who was most recently the head coach at High Point University.[3] He was previously the head coach at Loyola University Maryland.[4]
![]() Smith coaching in February 2017 | |
Biographical details | |
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Born | Leonardtown, Maryland, U.S. | January 14, 1977
Playing career | |
1995–1999 | Georgia |
Position(s) | Point guard |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1999–2000 | Lexington Catholic HS (assistant) |
2000–2002 | Kentucky (GA) |
2002–2004 | Tennessee Tech (assistant) |
2004–2006 | Armstrong Atlantic State (assistant) |
2006–2007 | Johns Hopkins (assistant) |
2007–2013 | Loyola (MD) (assistant) |
2013–2018 | Loyola (MD) |
2018–2022 | High Point (assistant) |
2022–2023 | High Point |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 73–118 (.382) |
Early life and college playing career
A native of Leonardtown, Maryland,[4] Smith is the oldest son of college basketball coach Tubby Smith.[5][6] G.G. attended Cascia Hall Preparatory School while his father coached at the University of Tulsa. After graduating from Cascia Hall in 1995, Smith attended the University of Georgia and played basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs under Tubby Smith, who had been hired to coach at Georgia the same year. A point guard, Smith joined the starting lineup as a sophomore and averaged 9.5 points and 2.4 rebounds.[7] He later played his junior and senior seasons under Ron Jirsa. As a senior, Smith averaged 8.5 points and 2.3 rebounds.[8] Smith graduated from Georgia in December 1999 with a degree in health and physical education.[9]
Coaching career
Smith began his coaching career as an assistant coach and teacher at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Kentucky. In the fall of 2000, Smith enrolled at the University of Kentucky for graduate school and joined his father's staff as a graduate assistant.[9] Completing his master's degree in sports management in 2002, Smith became an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech. From 2004 to 2006, Smith was an assistant at Armstrong Atlantic State, then at Johns Hopkins for the 2006–07 season.[4]
After six seasons as an assistant under Jimmy Patsos, Smith succeeded Patsos as head coach at Loyola University Maryland in 2013 after Patsos took the head coaching job at Siena.[6]
On March 8, 2018, Smith announced that he was resigning from Loyola after 5 seasons.[10] He was subsequently hired by his father Tubby Smith as an assistant at High Point.[11] On February 16, 2022, the elder Smith stepped down as coach, making G.G. his replacement.[12] In his first full season, Smith led High Point to a 14-17 record. He was fired on March 3, 2023.[13]
Head coaching record
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loyola Greyhounds (Patriot League) (2013–2018) | |||||||||
2013–14 | Loyola | 11–19 | 6–12 | 7th | |||||
2014–15 | Loyola | 11–19 | 7–11 | 9th | |||||
2015–16 | Loyola | 9–21 | 8–10 | 8th | |||||
2016–17 | Loyola | 16–17 | 8–10 | T–6th | CBI Quarterfinals | ||||
2017–18 | Loyola | 9–22 | 6–12 | 8th | |||||
Loyola: | 56–98 (.364) | 35–55 (.389) | |||||||
High Point Panthers (Big South Conference) (2022–2023) | |||||||||
2021–22 | High Point | 3–3 | 2–3 | T–3rd (North) | |||||
2022–23 | High Point | 14–17 | 6–12 | 8th | |||||
High Point: | 17–20 (.459) | 8–15 (.348) | |||||||
Total: | 73–118 (.382) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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References
- Foster, Chris (December 6, 1997). "A Point of His Own : G.G. Smith Stayed at Georgia When Dad Left for Kentucky". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- NCAA Coaching Database Search for G.G. Smith
- "Tubby Smith Decides to Step Down as Men's Basketball Head Coach Son, G.G. Smith Will Take Over as HPU Head Coach". High Point Panthers. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- "Loyola (MD) head coach biography". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- Mason, A.J. (April 17, 2013). "G.G. Smith follows in Tubby's footsteps". Gazette.net. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- Markus, Don. "Sacrifices lead to prime opportunity for G.G. Smith". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- "G.G. Smith". Georgia Bulldogs. Archived from the original on February 11, 1998. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- "G.G. Smith Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- "G.G. Smith". University of Kentucky. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- "Loyola announces G.G. Smith is stepping down as men's basketball coach". Baltimore Sun. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- "Tubby Smith hires son GG as assistant coach at High Point". AP.org. May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- "Tubby Smith steps down as High Point Panthers men's basketball coach, son G.G. Smith takes over". ESPN.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- Borzello, Jeff (March 3, 2023). "Sources: High Point Panthers fire head coach G.G. Smith". ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2023.