Jason Smith is in his first season as the women’s basketball head coach at NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan University. He previously served as the head women’s coach at Peru State during the 2023-2024 season and Cedarville University from 2021-2023.

Prior to Cedarville Smith had a ten-year run as the women’s head coach at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. He produced an impressive resume at Bryan where he is the school’s all-time winningest coach. Smith guided the Lions to an overall record of 219-85 including a 157-49 slate in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. His teams claimed five regular season titles, four league tournament crowns, and made six appearances in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Following his final season, Smith earned his third consecutive AAC Coach of the Year honor after his team posted a remarkable 78-7 record during that timespan featuring a perfect 64-0 conference mark. He produced nine consecutive winning campaigns.

Jason previously served as the head men’s basketball coach at both Calvary Bible College and San Diego Christian College. As an undergraduate at Kansas he was a varsity manager and film technician for Head Coach Roy Williams.

On this episode Mike & Jason discuss the importance of self-awareness and accountability in player development. Jason emphasizes that players often already know what they need to improve upon but may struggle to articulate it or take ownership of their performance. Smith reflects on the challenges coaches face when trying to instill a strong work ethic and a winning mentality in their teams, particularly in an era where instant gratification is prevalent. He shares insights from his coaching journey, including the need to foster a culture of love and acceptance within the team, allowing players to feel valued regardless of their role. The conversation highlights the significance of building trust and encouraging open communication between coaches and players to help them navigate their growth on and off the court.

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