Finlandia Gets Smith From Michigan State

Hancock, MI. (June 3, 2011) – Terry Smith, who has spent the last 27 years
coaching basketball in the State of Michigan at every level, has accepted an offer to become the next head men\’s basketball coach at Finlandia University according to an announcement Friday afternoon from Athletic Director Chris Salani.

\”We are extremely pleased and fortunate that Coach Smith has accepted the opportunity to be our next men\’s basketball coach,\” said Salani. \”Given the wonderful applicants we had for the opening, I\’m thrilled with the opportunity to be able to work with Terry. His leadership and experiences of success in the GLIAC will undoubtedly raise our standard not only within our men\’s basketball program, but also for us regionally within the DIII landscape. We are looking forward to Coach Smith\’s coaching abilities and network to help propel our men\’s basketball team forward.\”

The Crystal Falls, Michigan native spent the 2010 season as an assistant
women\’s basketball coach at Michigan State University under head coach Suzy Merchant. Smith assisted with all aspects of the women\’s basketball program at MSU. The Spartans won their first ever outright Big Ten Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

In addition to his year at Michigan State, Smith has amassed 16 years of
collegiate head coaching experience. Most recently, Smith spent three
seasons as the head coach at Alma College from 2007-2010. Prior to Alma, Smith was the head coach at Great Lakes Collegiate Athletic Conference member institutions Grand Valley State University (1997-2004) and Lake Superior State University (1991-1997).

At Grand Valley State, Smith won 110 games including a 2000-2001 GLIAC North Division and Conference Tournament Championship. At Lake Superior State, Smith led the Lakers to both the 1995-1996 GLIAC regular season title and a GLIAC Conference Tournament Championship. He was honored as the 1996 GLIAC \”Coach of the Year\” and the 1996 NABC District \”Coach of the Year\” following the season.

In between stints at GVSU and LSSU, Smith gained professional head coaching experience with the Holland Blast of the International Basketball League from 2006-2007 after being named an assistant coach the previous year. Smith was also the boy\’s varsity basketball coach at Hart High School from 2004-2007.

Smith began his coaching career as the boy\’s varsity basketball coach at
Fulton High School from 1984-1986. He followed that with a district
championship at Cedar Springs High School from 1986-1987 and two NCAA Division II men\’s assistant coaching positions at Ferris State University and Lake Superior State. During his time at FSU, the Bulldogs won 25 games and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. He has been a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches since 1985 and the Basketball Coaches of Michigan since 1984.

Smith graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Physical Education in 1984. He received his Master of Arts degree in
Physical Education from Central Michigan University and a Master of
Arts-Education Leadership Certificate from Grand Valley State.