Former Clemson basketball assistant finds new home

It didn’t take long for Steve Smith to find a new destination.

The former Clemson assistant basketball coach has found a new home and he’ll continue to be in the ACC. Smith was recently hired by Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton. The two coaches have known each other for a very long time.

I have known Coach Smith for a decade or more, and he is well respected in our profession,” Hamilton said. “He knows the ACC and he knows the brand of basketball we play at Florida State. I’m confident that he will be an outstanding addition to our staff.”

Smith helped coach the Tigers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018 and was on Brad Brownell’s staff for seven seasons. He was instrumental in the recruitments of Jaron Blossomgame, K.J. McDaniels, and Donte Grantham.

Before Clemson, Smith worked at Georgia Southern from 2010-12 as an assistant coach under FSU assistant Charlton Young.

Smith’s contract was not renewed by the Tigers after comments about both Clemson’s football and basketball programs were brought up via wiretaps in the recent FBI investigation in college basketball.

Clemson and Florida State will play twice in the regular season, but the dates and times for those contests have yet to be announced. The Tigers will tip off their season against Virginia Tech on the ACC Network on Nov. 5.