FIRST SEASON: 2019-20

Jay Smith is in his second season with New Orleans, joining the staff in the summer of 2019. Smith joined the Privateers after serving as the head coach of Wiley College for two seasons.

In his first season on the Lakefront, Smith was instrumental in the career years for Bryson Robinson and Troy Green. The backcourt set banner marks in points and free throw shooting. Robinson became the 23rd member of the 1,000 point club en route to setting the program record in single season three-pointers while Green begins 2020-21 just outside of the top 10 in several statistical categories. 
 
As the leader of the men's basketball program at Wiley, Smith produced five all-conference student-athletes and two NAIA All-Americans.
 
Prior to his stint in Marshall, Texas, Smith spent three seasons as the director of player development at LSU-Alexandria. The team won three Red River Athletic Conference regular season championships and two tournament titles. Smith was named one of CoachStat.net Top 25 Small College Assistant Coaches after LSUA went 86-9 in its first three years as a program. The Generals appeared in the Fab Four in 2017 with a record of 34-1.
 
Smith spent eight seasons as an assistant at Comeaux High School in Lafayette. Smith led the club to 171 victories with one McDonald's All-American.
 
A 2017 graduate of LSU-Alexandria, Smith has a son, Jailon.