USU athletic director John Hartwell traveled to the Midwest this week to conduct a series of interviews at a central location, The Tribune previously reported. The potential hiring of Smith plays into that timetable and geography in Hartwell’s search to replace Tim Duryea, who was fired March 11 after three seasons.
Smith, 45, has posted a 79-55 record in four seasons at South Dakota, winning a Summit League regular-season championship in 2016-17. The Coyotes went 26-9 (11-3 conference play) this season, losing to South Dakota State in the Summit League tournament championship game. South Dakota then fell to North Texas in the College Basketball Invitational.