On April 7, a Clemson alumnus took over the reins of West Florida’s men’s basketball team, which recently announced its transition from Division II to Division I ahead of the 2026-27 season, following a 25-9 finish this season.

That alumnus is Tanner Smith, who suited up for Clemson basketball from 2008 to 2012, splitting time under Oliver Purnell and Brad Brownell — the program’s former and current head coaches, respectively.

Last season, the West Florida Argonauts won the Gulf South Conference and made their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Smith inherits a program coming off one of its best seasons ever, though not without controversy. The Argonauts parted ways with former head coach Justin Mann shortly after the season ended, citing a desire to “move in a new direction.”

West Florida’s associate vice president of intercollegiate athletics, Dave Scott, made it clear that the former Tiger is exactly that new direction.

“We are in a pivotal moment in the history of UWF athletics, and I’m confident Tanner will lead this program to new heights,” he said after making the hire official. “He’s a high-character man who will build lasting relationships with his student-athletes and the community while developing a high-caliber team on the court. It’s an exciting time for Argos basketball.”

That said, if Smith’s resume is any indication, Scott’s confidence is well-placed.

The 36-year-old has spent his entire coaching career at the Division I level, beginning with Mississippi State as a graduate assistant in 2014. He then spent two seasons as the Charlotte 49ers’ director of basketball operations before being promoted to a full-time assistant coach in 2017. However, Smith chose to return to Starkville, Mississippi and joined Mississippi State as the director of basketball operations in 2018.

Since then, he’s gone back to being a full-time assistant, including two-year stints at Kennesaw State and Stephen F. Austin State University. Most recently, he had a three-year stint with Appalachian State, where the Mountaineers set a program record with 27 wins in his first season.

“Tanner is a home run hire for West Florida,” Mountaineers head coach Dustin Kerns said. “He’s been a vital part of our success here at App State, bringing a tireless work ethic and a bright basketball mind to our program every day … He is more than ready to lead a program.”

His knowledge goes far beyond his coaching career, though, as he wasn’t just an average player during his four years with the Tigers.

While he didn’t get much playing time as a true freshman, Smith went on to start 93 of 95 games across the next three years while averaging 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 steals per game. In his time as a starter, the 6-foot-5 guard helped the Tigers make two NCAA Tournaments, including a first-round beatdown over the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Brownell’s first year as head coach.

Smith ended up playing professionally overseas after going undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, but it didn’t last long, as he felt his true calling was teaching the game he had once been taught himself. And in retrospect, that decision appears to have been the right one.