COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Whitten Family Men's Basketball Head Coach Dennis Gates has added assistant coach Kyle Smithpeters to his staff.
He joins associate head coach Charlton Young and assistant coach Dickey Nutt on the bench, with all three Tigers assistants possessing former head coaching experience.
"Excited and grateful to be joining Coach Gates and his staff at Mizzou," Smithpeters said. "I have known Coach Gates for the better part of 15 years and his integrity and work ethic are at the highest standards. The opportunity to join a veteran staff at such a fine university was hard to pass up. The rich academic and athletic tradition represents everything a student-athlete should want."
Smithpeters joins the Tigers following a successful 10-year stint as the head coach at John A. Logan Community College. He compiled an overall record of 241-73, including 20 or more wins in eight of the last nine seasons. He earned Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors six times over his first eight seasons as a head coach.
"Kyle is a well-respected coach, regardless of level," Gates said. "He is a great teacher, evaluator and recruiter. I have had a front row seat for 15 years watching him prepare for this opportunity, but also build John A. Logan College into the power it is today. After attempting to hire Coach Smithpeters three years ago, I am excited to see him join the greats who have made this transition before him. It's no better time to welcome Coach Smithpeters and his family to our staff, the city of Columbia and Mizzou."
In his time at the helm of the Volunteers, Smithpeters coached seven All-Americans and two NJCAA Players of the Year, sending over 40 players to Division 1 programs. Smithpeters led John A. Logan to a 29-4 overall record in 2021-22, along with a Region 24 Championship, NJCAA Central District title and an appearance in the NJCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship.
"I have a tremendous respect for the opportunities and development that NJCAA basketball continues to give both players and coaches," said Gates. "As we move into the new landscape of Division 1 basketball, JUCO coaches have the competitive advantage of building championship teams under the same conditions that can be seen now while navigating the current model."
Smithpeters began his coaching career at Southeastern Illinois before first serving as an assistant at John A. Logan for four seasons. Smithpeters then worked under head coach Paul Lusk at Missouri State for the 2011-12 season before taking over at the helm for the Volunteers.
A native of southern Illinois, Smithpeters played two seasons of basketball at Southeastern Illinois College and helped lead his team to a final four appearance in 2003. Following his success at Southeastern, he continued his collegiate career at Southern Illinois helping the Salukis to two-straight NCAA Tournament berths.
Kyle Smithpeters Coaching Career
- 2006-07 - Southeastern Illinois College – Assistant Coach
- 2007-2011 – John A. Logan CC – Assistant Coach
- 2011-12 – Missouri State – Assistant Coach
- 2012-22 – John A. Logan CC – Head Coach
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