Lamont Smith begins his first season as the top assistant forSanta Clara head coach Kerry Keating after spending the past sixseasons as an assistant on the staff of Randy Bennett at SaintMary's College. With the Gaels, Smith's duties included workingwith the post players, assisting with the strength and conditioningprogram, recruiting, and scouting.
Smith, a native of The Colony, Texas, returned to the West CoastConference in 2001 after spending two years as the graduateassistant coach at Saint Louis University.
Smith began his coaching career under the tutelage of LorenzoRomar at Saint Louis. During his time there, Smith was an assistantcoach on the same staff as Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett,who brought Smith with him to Saint Mary's when he took the headjob there in 2001. Smith's duties with the Billikens includedcoordinating the team's video editing and film exchange, whileassisting with team recruiting, scouting and strength andconditioning programs.
Smith, 31, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicationsfrom the University of San Diego in 1998 and was a member of themen's basketball team from 1994-99. He was named the Toreros'Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 and 1999 and served as theteam captain from 1997-99.
