Will Smith Position: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Experience: 2nd Year Alma Mater: Colorado, '00

Will Smith, the first player recruited by Northern Illinois head coach Ricardo Patton at the University of Colorado, enters his second season as an assistant coach at NIU, and the sixth campaign on Patton's coaching staff. Smith will also serve as recruiting coordinator heading into the 2009-10 campaign.

After serving a combined four years as the Director of Basketball Operations at both Colorado and NIU, Smith was elevated to the assistant coaching post with the Huskies in May 2008. His duties include film editing, scouting, individual workouts and recruiting. Smith also directs NIU's defensive principles, along with designing and distributing the "Huskie Howler," the program's monthly newsletter.

As Patton's operations director, Smith was responsible for travel and practice plans, film exchange, game-by-game scouting, academics and coordinating the Ricardo Patton basketball camps (at CU).

As mentioned, Smith was Patton's first signed recruit at Colorado, and played for the Buffs from 1996-2000, including two seasons with former All-American Chauncey Billups. He was a part of one NCAA Tournament team (1996-97) and a pair of National Invitation Tournament (NIT) squads (1998-99 and 1999-2000). Smith is the first former player under Patton to join his coaching staff.

Smith scored 739 points during his four-year career and shares the CU all-time record for most games played in a career (123). He is also one-of two players in program history to have played more than 100 games without fouling out in a single contest.

During the 2001-02 season, the Memphis, Tenn., native played professional basketball for the Colima Tuberos in the LNBP League in Colima, Mexico. During that time, Smith served as a tutor, and a conversation English teacher at the University of Colima.

Smith lettered four times in basketball at Hamilton High School (Memphis). He was a standout prep player, earning a top-100 national ranking, along with a No. 2 overall ranking in the state of Tennessee as a senior. Smith was tabbed district MVP in 1996, and was awarded the Coca-Cola Winter Sports Player of the Year in the same season.

Smith was born Dec. 13, 1978. He has an 11-year old son, Caleb.