The worst kept secret in New York City college hoops is now out.
Kyle Smith announced his resignation from Columbia University to become head men’s basketball coach at the University of San Francisco, the school announced Wednesday.
Columbia said a “national search” is underway but, as reported Tuesday night by SNY.tv, multiple sources said that NJIT coach Jimmy Engles is the favorite. Engles was a CU assistant from 2003-8 and coincidentally lost to Columbia in the CIT semifinals. Rice assistant Carlin Hartmann is also in the mix, sources said.
Smith, 46, goes out on top. He led the Lions to a 73-67 win over UC Irvine Tuesday night in the CIT championship game, marking the first postseason tournament title for a New York City team since St. John’s won the NIT in 2003. It was also the first postseason tournament win for an Ivy League school since Princeton won the NIT in 1975.
“Over the past six years, Kyle has done an incredible job with our men’s basketball program – culminating in last night’s championship victory in the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament,” Columbia AD Peter Pilling said. “All of us are proud of Kyle and his team and wish him the best of luck in his new career opportunity.”
“This was an extremely difficult decision. I would like to thank Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger and former Athletics Director Dr. M. Dianne Murphy for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to be the head coach at such an extraordinary University,” said Smith. “I have been blessed to work with such a great staff and an outstanding group of student-athletes. I also need to thank the men’s basketball committee members, Jonathan Schiller, John Vaske, Gene Schatz, Jerry Sherwin and our current administration, Peter Pilling and Joe Quinlan.”
In six seasons as head coach, he compiled a record of 101-83 overall record, tied for the third most victories by any Columbia head coach, including a school-record 25 wins this season. Under his leadership, Columbia qualified for the CIT in both 2014 and 2016, winning the championship in his final game at Columbia. The team’s 10 Ivy League wins this season were the most by a Columbia team in more than two decades.
Also at Columbia, Grant Mullins is graduating and has a year of eligibility remaining. He told ESPN.com he’s considering Michigan, California, Syracuse and Hawaii, among others.
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