Still., the former assistant at NCAA Division I North Carolina-Wilmington (UNCW) will not take success for granted. "I'm stepping into an established program at Robert Morris, one that is definitely on the upswing," Smith says. "However, past success never guarantees future success, and I plan on working hard to take this program to the next level."

Smith's hard work in eight season at UNCW is evident, as he helped lead the Seahawks to their forth consecutive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title in 1999-00. Last season, Smith's UNCW team broke 18 indoor and outdoor school records, and he coached nine of the CAA's 11 conference champions, including four All-East Coast performers. In eight years at Wilmington, Smith has instructed six NCAA qualifiers and 18 All-East Coach Athletes. He is a 1992 graduate of Southern Connecticut State and earned his master's degree in 1995 from UNCW.