Loyola-Maryland promotes Smith to head coach

Apr 12, 2013 - 8:53 PM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Loyola-Maryland named G.G. Smith as its head men's basketball coach on Friday.

Smith, who is the son of current Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith, has been an assistant at Loyola for the past six seasons. He takes over for Jimmy Patsos, who left for Siena earlier this month after a nine-year stint with the Greyhounds.

"It is an honor to be asked to continue building on what Loyola men's basketball has accomplished," Smith said. "Loyola is a wonderful school that has been a great home for the last six years, and I look forward to leading the program going forward. I would like to thank Father Linnane, (executive vice president) Susan Donovan, (vice president) Marc Camille and (assistant vice president and director of athletics) Jim Paquette for their support and commitment to Loyola basketball and me."

The 36-year-old Smith is the 20th head coach in Loyola history and inherits a program that won 62 games over the last three seasons and reached the postseason in each of the last two.