FARGO, N.D.-
Mayville State men’s basketball coach Craig Smith has been named Colorado State’s director of basketball operations.
The move reunites the former North Dakota State assistant with mentor Tim Miles, who was hired as head coach at Colorado State last month after turning a fledgling NCAA Division I Bison program into a consistent winner.
Smith, who signed a one-year contract worth $50,000, will begin his new job Monday.
“When I started out at Mayville State I always said it would take a very special circumstance for me to leave,” Smith said. “(Miles) is the No. 1 reason for me leaving. Loyalty and trust are certainly big in this business.”
Smith led the Comets to three NAIA Division II national tournaments in three years. He was named Division II coach of the year this season after leading Mayville State to the national tournament final.
An assistant at Mayville State under Miles in 1997-98, the two reunited with the Bison from 2001-2004. While at NDSU, Smith said he was in charge of scouting, scheduling and some recruiting.
Smith said he will deal with scouting, scheduling, academic monitoring and studying game film at Colorado State.
Smith became the head coach at Mayville State in 2004, inheriting a team that finished 1-27 the previous season.
He orchestrated an immediate turnaround, helping the Comets to 17 wins and a berth in the national tournament.
The next year, Mayville State won the most games in school history with 28 and advanced to the national quarterfinals.
A search for Smith’s replacement will begin immediately, Mayville State athletic director Mike Moore said.
Smith said he has recommended that assistant Justin Johnson replace him as the Comets’ coach.
