Smith Promoted to Associate Head Coach
7/1/2026 1:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio — Miami University head men's basketball coach Travis Steele announced today that Khristian Smith has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Smith joined Steele's program in May of 2022 as an assistant coach and has spent the past four years with the program.
"Khristian has earned this promotion to Associate Head Coach," said Steele. "He has been here with me since day one and impacted our program in every way imaginable."
Smith helped lead the Red and White to a historic 2025-26 campaign, as the RedHawks became just the fifth NCAA Division I program this century to complete an undefeated regular season. Miami finished with a program-record 32 wins (tying the MAC single-season record), surpassing the previous mark of 25 victories set the year before. The RedHawks established the best start in MAC history, the longest conference winning streak in league history and the longest overall win streak in MAC history. Miami also entered the Top 25 rankings for the first time since Feb. 15, 1999, climbing as high as No. 19 (the program's highest ranking since March 13, 1978). The RedHawks set school records for consecutive home wins (16) and road wins (14) in a single season, while rewriting the record book offensively with program highs in made field goals (1,049), total points (3,047), field goal percentage (51.7%) and free throws made (592). Miami also held strong on the defensive end, finishing just outside the program's top five in both blocks (112) and steals (250). During conference play, the Red and White ranked third overall in turnover margin (1.61).
Peter Suder was named to the NABC Division I East District First Team, and Brant Byers was selected to the Second Team. Suder earned MAC Player of the Year and earned First-Team honors as well, while Byers received a spot on the All-MAC Second Team, Eian Elmer was selected to the All-MAC Second Team, Luke Skaljac was placed on the All-MAC Third Team and Antwone Woolfolk was recognized as All-MAC Honorable Mention.
"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Associate Head Coach for Miami University," Smith said. "I would like to thank Coach Steele, our administrators, the players and everyone from the university that has supported us these past four years. I'm excited to get to work and continue our championship mindset."
Smith was instrumental in the RedHawks' progress during the 2024–25 season, particularly on defense. Miami led the MAC in both turnover margin (2.00) and steals per game (8.00). The team also made history by recording the second-highest single-season steal total in program history (272) and tying for fourth all-time in blocks (120). The RedHawks earned two All-MAC recognitions, a MAC All-Freshman nod, and a MAC Freshman of the Year award.
In 2023-24, Smith helped Miami become one of the top defenses in the MAC, keeping opponents to 70.0 points (tied for second in the MAC) with an average field goal percentage of 42.8% (third in the MAC). Offensively, the RedHawks led the entire MAC with 14.44 assists per game. The Red and White also ranked third in the conference with 8.1 threes per game with a 36.1% field goal percentage. Miami put a player on the MAC All-Freshman Team and had two RedHawks selected as All-MAC (Honorable Mention).
During Smith's first year in Oxford, the RedHawks went 12-20 and earned a berth in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed. The Red and White won four consecutive games in February to qualify for the postseason after being picked 11th in the preseason poll, including a 17-point win over rival Ohio in the RedHawks' final home game of the year. The Red and White had a Third-Team All-MAC selection, an Honorable Mention All-MAC pick and a MAC All-Freshman Team honoree.
Smith came to Miami after spending one season at Ball State as an assistant coach. With the Cardinals, Smith assisted with the recruiting efforts and oversaw student-athlete academic progress towards graduation. On the court, Smith helped develop guard Jaylin Sellers into an All-MAC Freshman Team honoree.
Before arriving in Muncie, Smith was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech (2019-21) under Chris Beard, the National Coach of the Year. In the 2019-2020 season, Tech defeated No. 1 Louisville. The following year, the Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Utah State. Tech was ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation and remained in the Top 25 all season long for the first time in school history.
Smith was a graduate assistant for Indiana State (2017-2019) under head coach Greg Lansing. With a player development role, Smith helped develop sophomore guard Tyreke Key. Key was second team all-conference and led the Valley in scoring at 17.3 ppg.
Prior to entering his coaching career, Smith played professionally overseas for the Sluneta Usti Nad Labem (Czech Republic) during the 2016-2017 campaign, where they made the playoffs for the first time in a decade and Smith averaged 12.3 ppg.
An Indianapolis, Ind. native, Smith played at Pike High School before a four-year career at Indiana State. He earned all-conference honors as well as being named the only sixth man of the year in school history (2013-2014). Smith graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in sports management and a master's of science in physical education/coaching.
"Khristian has earned this promotion to Associate Head Coach," said Steele. "He has been here with me since day one and impacted our program in every way imaginable."
Smith helped lead the Red and White to a historic 2025-26 campaign, as the RedHawks became just the fifth NCAA Division I program this century to complete an undefeated regular season. Miami finished with a program-record 32 wins (tying the MAC single-season record), surpassing the previous mark of 25 victories set the year before. The RedHawks established the best start in MAC history, the longest conference winning streak in league history and the longest overall win streak in MAC history. Miami also entered the Top 25 rankings for the first time since Feb. 15, 1999, climbing as high as No. 19 (the program's highest ranking since March 13, 1978). The RedHawks set school records for consecutive home wins (16) and road wins (14) in a single season, while rewriting the record book offensively with program highs in made field goals (1,049), total points (3,047), field goal percentage (51.7%) and free throws made (592). Miami also held strong on the defensive end, finishing just outside the program's top five in both blocks (112) and steals (250). During conference play, the Red and White ranked third overall in turnover margin (1.61).
Peter Suder was named to the NABC Division I East District First Team, and Brant Byers was selected to the Second Team. Suder earned MAC Player of the Year and earned First-Team honors as well, while Byers received a spot on the All-MAC Second Team, Eian Elmer was selected to the All-MAC Second Team, Luke Skaljac was placed on the All-MAC Third Team and Antwone Woolfolk was recognized as All-MAC Honorable Mention.
"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Associate Head Coach for Miami University," Smith said. "I would like to thank Coach Steele, our administrators, the players and everyone from the university that has supported us these past four years. I'm excited to get to work and continue our championship mindset."
Smith was instrumental in the RedHawks' progress during the 2024–25 season, particularly on defense. Miami led the MAC in both turnover margin (2.00) and steals per game (8.00). The team also made history by recording the second-highest single-season steal total in program history (272) and tying for fourth all-time in blocks (120). The RedHawks earned two All-MAC recognitions, a MAC All-Freshman nod, and a MAC Freshman of the Year award.
In 2023-24, Smith helped Miami become one of the top defenses in the MAC, keeping opponents to 70.0 points (tied for second in the MAC) with an average field goal percentage of 42.8% (third in the MAC). Offensively, the RedHawks led the entire MAC with 14.44 assists per game. The Red and White also ranked third in the conference with 8.1 threes per game with a 36.1% field goal percentage. Miami put a player on the MAC All-Freshman Team and had two RedHawks selected as All-MAC (Honorable Mention).
During Smith's first year in Oxford, the RedHawks went 12-20 and earned a berth in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed. The Red and White won four consecutive games in February to qualify for the postseason after being picked 11th in the preseason poll, including a 17-point win over rival Ohio in the RedHawks' final home game of the year. The Red and White had a Third-Team All-MAC selection, an Honorable Mention All-MAC pick and a MAC All-Freshman Team honoree.
Smith came to Miami after spending one season at Ball State as an assistant coach. With the Cardinals, Smith assisted with the recruiting efforts and oversaw student-athlete academic progress towards graduation. On the court, Smith helped develop guard Jaylin Sellers into an All-MAC Freshman Team honoree.
Before arriving in Muncie, Smith was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech (2019-21) under Chris Beard, the National Coach of the Year. In the 2019-2020 season, Tech defeated No. 1 Louisville. The following year, the Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Utah State. Tech was ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation and remained in the Top 25 all season long for the first time in school history.
Smith was a graduate assistant for Indiana State (2017-2019) under head coach Greg Lansing. With a player development role, Smith helped develop sophomore guard Tyreke Key. Key was second team all-conference and led the Valley in scoring at 17.3 ppg.
Prior to entering his coaching career, Smith played professionally overseas for the Sluneta Usti Nad Labem (Czech Republic) during the 2016-2017 campaign, where they made the playoffs for the first time in a decade and Smith averaged 12.3 ppg.
An Indianapolis, Ind. native, Smith played at Pike High School before a four-year career at Indiana State. He earned all-conference honors as well as being named the only sixth man of the year in school history (2013-2014). Smith graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in sports management and a master's of science in physical education/coaching.
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