John Smith (born March 12, 1969)

Current position: Head men’s basketball coach
Current team: Cal Poly Mustangs
Current conference: Big West Conference
Cal Poly record: 26-89 (.226)
Overall record^: 26-89 (.226)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  0
• Big West Regular Season Champion:  0
• Big West Tournament Champion:  0

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2019-present	Cal Poly
2013-2019	Cal State Fullerton (assoc. HC)
2004-2013	Riverside City College
2000-2004	San Bernardino Valley College
199#-##	College of Southern Idaho (asst)
199#-199#	Chaffey College (asst)

John Smith Facts

• John Smith
• Born March 12, 1969
• Hometown: Riverside, California
• Alma Mater: Dominican University (BS, 1994) / Azusa Pacific University (MS, 2004)
• Started his college career at UNLV, where he played under Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Tarkanian
  • Transferred to NAIA Dominican in San Rafael, CA, where he played for brother, Steve Smith
• Early coaching jobs included stints as an assistant College of Southern Idaho, Chaffey College (CA), Valley View HS (CA) and at his alma mater, J.W. North HS in Riverside, CA
• Spent one year as the West Coast scout for the Detroit Shock of the WNBA
• Served as head coach at assistant athletic director at San Bernardino Valley College (CA) for four year
  • Went 88-40 during his tenure, earning Foothill Conference COY honors in 2003
• Was the head coach at Riverside City College (CA) for nine seasons, going 196-87 (.693) overall
  • Won four conference titles (2005, 2007, 2010, 2011) and the 2009 CCCAA state championship
  • Inducted into the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016
• Spent six seasons as associate head coach under Dedrique Taylor at Cal State Fullerton
  • Was on staff for three postseason appearances (one NCAA and two CBI) and the 2018 Big West Tournament title
• Hired in March 2019 to be the head coach at Cal Poly, his first D-I head coaching opportunity
• Along with his wife, Kelly, has one son and two daughters

John Smith Coaching Tree

• Justin Downer (Point Loma)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only