One day after initial reports surfaced linking Kyle Smith to Washington State’s vacant men’s basketball job, the two sides have agreed to a longterm contract to make Smith the Cougars’ next coach.
According to a Spokesman-Review source, Smith has formally accepted a six-year contract that will pay the former University of San Francisco coach $1.4 million annually.
Ernie Kent, who was fired after leading the Cougars to a 13-18 record in 2018-19, was also earning $1.4 million per year. It’ll cost WSU $4.2 million over the next three years to buy out the remainder of Kent’s contact, which was set to expire after the 2021-22 season.