Smith, ex-Vols hoops standout, promoted to new KCHS head coach
4th Irish boys basketball boss in 4 years
A Cleveland (Bradley County) native, Smith served as a Fighting Irish boys assistant coach during the 2023-24 season. “Prior to joining the Fighting Irish family, Smith spent two years as the assistant head coach at Speights Academy in Florida,” a KCHS press releases stated. “That team had two undefeated seasons and were two-time post-grad national champions.
“Smith is a basketball enthusiast with a rich background in the sport,” the release further stated. “After a short stint in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, Smith went on to play over a decade of professional basketball overseas … in Turkey, France and Croatia.
During his four-year career at UT, Smith earned All-SEC Defensive First Team honors for the 2008 SEC regular season champion Vols. He made 253 career 3-pointers (third all-time in program history), 183 steals (fourth all-time, program-wise) and 1,384 career points.
As a coach, Smith has “trained and coached AAU teams and post-grad players,” the release stated. “His passion for developing young talent and helping players reach their full potential is evident in his coaching style. Smith’s unique perspective as a former player at various levels brings a valuable perspective to his coaching, allowing him to mentor and guide aspiring athletes effectively.”
“Coach Smith brings a wealth of basketball knowledge to our program,” KCHS athletic director Jason Surlas said. “From his humble beginning as a walk-on player at Tennessee to leaving in the record books — along with a long professional career — allows him to relate to players and push them to never settle for anything less than being great. JaJuan is dedicated to developing their talents as athletes and build their character as young men. He is committed to fostering a culture
of teamwork, discipline and excellence.”
