Back on Home Court: Luke Smith Returns to Belmont Basketball

Homecoming game against Indiana State, Feb. 22 

Double alumnus Luke Smith traded his jersey for a clipboard after graduating Belmont in 2021. His winding coaching journey took him from high school to Division II basketball before returning him home to join the men’s basketball coaching staff for the 2024-25 season as director of player development. 

Mirroring his personal return to campus, Homecoming carries a deeper meaning for Smith. As the Bruins prepare to face Indiana State Feb. 22, the former standout guard finds himself on a different side of the bench, helping shape the next generation of Belmont basketball players. 

“I could not have asked for a better place and a better experience to prepare me for everything that comes after life as a college athlete,” he reflected. “I know how thankful I am that I came to Belmont, so I'd like to pay that forward and give our guys that experience.”  

During his playing days, Smith was known for his competitive fire and sharp shooting, earning Academic All-American honors twice while completing his undergraduate degree in Business Administration and his MBA at Belmont. Now, he's focused on instilling that same competitive spirit in the players he coaches. 

"I've always been a pretty competitive person,” Smith said. “Bringing that fire and energy and desire to win — every drill, every game, every one-on-one matchup — is what I want to help instill in these guys." 

Smith’s fresh insight as a recent student-athlete helps him relate to current players' experiences, both on and off the court. 

The dynamic of coaching his former teammates adds another layer to Smith's homecoming story. Isaiah Walker, a guard for the Bruins having a standout season, was a freshman during Smith's senior year. "We hung out and we played together. He would come to my apartment all the time," Smith recalled. That familiarity has evolved into a balanced relationship that maintains professional boundaries while allowing for authentic connection.” 

Smith is eager to return home as the program continues to establish itself in these early years with the Missouri Valley Conference. Since 2006, Belmont has won 20 conference championships (eight tournament, 12 regular season), the third-most in NCAA Division I basketball during that stretch.  

For Smith, this homecoming season represents both a return and a new beginning. Even as the landscape of college basketball shifts, he's not just preserving Belmont's winning tradition — he's helping write its next chapter. 

"The game is the most fun when you have five guys playing as hard as they can and playing for each other," he said. "I hope that’s what people see for 40 minutes when they come to the game and watch us play.”