Current time in Baltimore 8:36 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2008
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Bringing with him a wealth of experience as a player and an assistant coach, Orlando "G.G." Smith joins Jimmy Patsos' staff for the first time this season. Smith will focus on recruiting and player development while assisting with administrative duties for the program.
Smith spent last season as an assistant at nearby Johns Hopkins University, helping the Blue Jays to a 24-5 final record and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Georgia, Smith was a three-year starter and four-time letter winner for the Bulldogs. Playing his first two seasons for Tubby Smith, Georgia advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both years and upset West top-seed Purdue to advance to the Sweet 16 in 1996. The Bulldogs advanced to the NIT in each of Smith's final two seasons playing for Ron Jirsa, finishing third in the 1998 event. He was named to the NIT All-Tournament team and participated with the NIT All-Stars European Tour later that summer after being named All-SEC Third Team following his junior season.
After a year as an assistant at Lexington (Ky.) Catholic HS following graduation, Smith rejoined Coach Smith as a graduate assistant on the staff at University of Kentucky for two seasons (2000-02). The Wildcats reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen each year and captured the 2001 SEC Tournament.
Having received his Masters of Education in Sports Management from Kentucky, Smith moved on as an assistant to Tennessee Tech University for one season, helping the Golden Eagles to a 21-10 final record and appearance in the 2003 Ohio Valley Championship game.
Following a year away from college coaching, Smith returned for two seasons as an assistant at Armstrong Atlantic State University (2004-06). The Pirates reached the championship game of the 2006 Peach Belt Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, finishing 23-8.
The son of current University of Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith, Smith has two younger brothers - Saul, an assistant at Minnesota, and Brian, a senior guard at the University of Mississippi. G.G. is married to the former Lorie Benton, a pediatric nephrology fellow at Johns Hopkins University.
