Miami Redhawks

Khristian Smith joined Travis Steele's Miami staff as an assistant coach in May 2022. He now enters his fourth season with the Red and White.

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).

Peter Suder was named First-Team All-MAC, and Kam Craft received Third-Team All-MAC honors. Brant Byers was recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team.

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.
 
Darweshi Hunter and Anderson Mirambeaux earned Honorable Mention All-MAC, while Eian Elmer was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

During his 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.
 
Miami’s Mekhi Lairy was tabbed Third Team All-MAC in 2021-22, while newcomer Anderson Mirambeaux was named Honorable Mention All-MAC after his scoring average jumped from 1.5 points per game at Cleveland State to 14.3 ppg as a RedHawk. Rookie guard Ryan Mabrey was also named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team.

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.