According to college basketball insider and CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Tennessee State is working on finalizing a deal with University of Memphis assistant coach Nolan Smith for its vacant men’s basketball position following the departure of Brian “Penny” Collins for a coaching job with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Although the sides are working towards an agreement, nothing has been finalized yet, adds Rothstein.
Following a decorated collegiate career at Duke that included helping the Blue Devils take home the 2010 national championship, earning the Most Outstanding Player at the Houston Regional and being named to the All-Final Four Team. A winner during his time at Duke, Smith helped the Blue Devils to a 121-22 record, including 65-2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium , which was the 5th highest win total in program history.
Taken 21st overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Smith played 4 professional seasons before returning to his alma mater as a special assistant in 2016. Smith remained in that capacity until 2018, when he became the Director of Basketball Operations & Player Development. He served in the role until becoming an assistant coach in 2021-22.
Smith would then join Kenny Payne’s staff at the University of Louisville before spending the previous season as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis.
