ASU Fills Assistant Coach Vacancy with Smith

Devils Digest has confirmed earlier reports that ASU Head Coach Herb Sendek has hired Santa Clara Assistant Coach Lamont Smith to the Sun Devils' staff. The 31-year old Smith will fill the void left after the departure of Associate Head Coach Mark Phelps who was hired by Drake University as their Head Coach.

After serving six years under Randy Bennett at Saint Mary's College, Smith joined Santa Clara as the lead assistant under Kerry Keating. Smith, a native of The Colony, Tex. graduated from the University of San Diego in 1998, where he was a member of the basketball team from 1994-99.

Smith began his coaching career serving two years as a graduate assistant to then Saint Louis University’s head coach Lorenzo Romar. In 2001 fellow coaching staff member Bennett took Smith with him when he accepted the Saint Mary's position. In both his coaching stops, not only was Smith involved in scouting and recruiting, but also with the strength and conditioning.

Smith joins Herb newly promoted ASU’s Associate Head Coach Dedrique Taylor and Assistant Coach Scott Pera.