The 2022-23 season will be the fourth season for Dave Smart in his role as Director of Basketball Operations.
Since taking over as head coach of the Carleton Ravens men's basketball team in 1999-00, Dave Smart has turned the Ravens program into one of the most successful dynasties in U SPORTS history.
Following the completion of the 2018-19 season, his 18th season at the helm of the Carleton Ravens men's basketball program, coach Smart ranks third on the all-time wins list in U SPORTS men's basketball history with 656 career victories against domestic competition. His .925 winning percentage (591-48) against U SPORTS competition ranks first among all coaches in Canadian university men's basketball history.
Smart has earned the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as U SPORTS Coach of the Year a record ten times, as well as ten OUA East Coach of the Year nods and two OUA Coach of the Year awards during his eighteen seasons at Carleton.
Coach Smart has led his team to 11 OUA championships - the most by any coach in conference history - and 13 U SPORTS Final 8 national championship titles in the past 17 years.
Dave Smart's incredible success at the Canadian university level has provided him with several opportunities to work at the national level. In 2012, Smart was named the assistant coach of the Canadian Senior Men’s Basketball National team by head coach Jay Triano. In June 2013, The Development Men’s National Team (DMNT) completed a sweep of the Four Nations’ International Invitational Tournament with a perfect 9-0 record in registering three victories over each of the United States, Latvia and host-nation China.
On August 3, 2015, Dave Smart announced that he would take a year-long sabbatical for the 2015-16 CIS season.
During his time away from Carleton, Smart was the assistant coach of the Senior Canadian Men's National Basketball team that finished third at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City, Mexico. Smart helped Canada end the tournament with an 8-2 record, including a decisive 1-point victory over the hosts Mexico in the bronze medal game.
At the 2016 FIBA Rio Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines, coach Smart continued in his role as assistant coach of the SMNT. Smart had the honour of coaching two former Ravens men's basketball players, Philip and Thomas Scrubb, who were both named to Canada's twelve-man roster.
On February 20, 2018, Dave Smart was named head coach of Canada's U18 National Team. Smart and Team Canada will host the FIBA U18 Americas Championship (June 10-16, 2018) in St. Catharines, ON.
Smart's record for producing pro-level talent is unmatched across the country. Over his 18 seasons at Carleton, Smart has helped numerous former Ravens make the transition to professional basketball, including: Paul Larmand, Josh Poirier, Osvaldo Jeanty, Aaron Doornekamp, Stu Turnbull, Ryan Bell, Kevin McCleery, Willy Manigat, Tyson Hinz, Thomas Scrubb, Philip Scrubb, Guillaume Payen Boucard, Kaza Kajami-Keane, Connor Wood, Ryan Ejim and Joe Rocca.
Smart has been named recipient of the Pat O'Brien Award as Ravens' Coach of the Year on five occasions (2003, 2005, 2008-2009 & 2015).
A graduate of Queen’s University, Smart resides in Ottawa where he works tirelessly with youth to continue to give back to grassroots initiatives and local community basketball in the city.
