Zack Smith - Women's Basketball Coach (2024)

For Lock Havenwomen’s basketball assistant coach, Zack Smith, the upcoming 2024-25season will mark this 14^thwith the team.

He’s played an instrumental role in helping rebuild and restore the program, and he has helped the Bald Eagles to the highest of highs in recent memory.

- The 2023-24 season by the numbers:
Smith helped lead the Bald Eagles to an historic season in 2023-24, which finished with the program's first NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region Semifinal appearance in over three decades.

The Bald Eagles finished with a program-record 29 victories, a PSAC East regular season title, a 21-1 conference mark and the first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1991. Lock Haven's run of 19 consecutive victories from earlier this season was also a program-record. Lock Haven's four loses all came at the hands of NCAA Tournament teams.

The Bald Eagles also reached the NCAA DII WBCA and CSC National Rankings for the first time in program history.

- The 2022-23 season by the numbers:
In 2022-23,the Bald Eagles secured a spot in the PSAC postseason tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

The Bald Eagles are coming off an 11-17 overall record and 9-13 mark in the PSAC East, which earned them the sixth seed in the 2022-23 conference tournament. The Haven fell in the first round to the No. 3 seed Kutztown University, 68-60.

Lock Haven's defense ranked fourth in the PSAC as they held opposing offenses to under 60 points per game and 39 percent shooting for the field.

The Bald Eagles upset 15th-ranked California (Pa.), 70-62, inside Thomas Fieldhouse on Dec. 3.

Leading the charge wasAlana Robinson,who was named PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year,while landing on the all-conference second team.

The Bald Eagle forward is just the second PSAC Freshman of the Year in Lock Haven women's basketball history since Rachel Ebeling brought home the award in 1996-97. Robinson made her mark early and set the LHU single-season record for blocks with 53, surpassing the previous record of 46 held by Shameka Lee since 2006. Her season tally also placed her second-best in the PSAC.

- The 2021-22season by the numbers:

Despite a season plagued by injuries, Smith was invaluable in taking the Bald Eagles all the way back to the PSAC quarterfinals for the second time in three years and their third straight trip to the conference playoffs. Highlighting the postseason run was a64-34 playoff dismantlingof Shippensburg in the opening round of the PSAC tournament.

Smith's guidance was crucial asAhnera ParkerandJaynelle Robinsonwere selected to the 2022 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Second Team. Both Parker and Robinson find themselves all over theLHU Record Bookin rebounds, blocks and scoring.

The Bald Eagles are also a leader in the classroom as the team notched an LHU second-best3.338 GPA over the 2021-22 academic year. The team also placed 11 on the PSAC Scholar-Athlete list, which requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 upon completion of the academic year.

- The 2019-20 season by the numbers:

In 2019-2020 Smith helped lead the Bald Eagles to their second consecutive winning season and to a second consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Playoff bout. This was the second time the team managed that feat in recent history, since reaching the PSAC playoffs in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Those two seasons were the first time back-to-back playoff seasons had been accomplished since the 1990-91 seasons. The team has now been to the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.

Yet the team’s successes were not just highlighted by their record. In fact, the squadron set a new a school record in opponent shooting percentage by limiting opponents to a meager .365. They also allowed just 63.1 points per game and were ranked the sixth best defense in the PSAC.

That success translated to the glass as the Bald Eagles racked up an astounding 1,159 total rebounds, good for second best in the PSAC. And when they needed her, Rileigh Devine was there to take the pitch out as she shot her way over the 1,000 career point mark and ended her career at LHU first all-time with 203 career made three pointers.

- The 2018-19 season by the numbers:

When the Bald Eagles won their First Round PSAC Tournament game over ESU, it marked the Bald Eagles first PSAC postseason win in 28 years. Prior to the win, LHU's last playoff win came in 1991. LHU eventually fell in the quarterfinals, marking the Bald Eagles first quarterfinal appearance since the 1990-91 season.

LHU finished the season at 15-14 and the 15 wins served as the most in a single season since the Bald Eagles won 17 during a 17-9 season in 2005-06. Lock Haven entered the PSAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed. It was quite the jump and season, after the PSAC Eastern Division coaches slotted the Bald Eagles at No. 7 in the preseason poll.

Early in the season, the Bald Eagles hit a six-game win streak on the way to their 7-1 start. The sensational start led to Lock Haven's first regional ranking in 28 seasons. The six-game win streak marked Lock Haven's longest since a seven-game win streak during the 2005-06 season. The next longest win streak was nine straight wins during the 1989-90 season after Lock Haven opened the season 9-0. The 7-1 start to the season therefore marked the best start to a season since the aforementioned 9-0 start back in 1989-90.

The Bald Eagles used balanced scoring all season and in the end, two players finished in double-figures. All-Conference pick Ahnera Parker led Lock Haven (13.4 pts./game) and Rileigh Devine chipped in with 12.2. Four players netted an average over 8.2.

Parker was named to the All-PSAC East Second Team and sharp-shooter Devine finished the season with 70 3-pointers. The 70 3's for Devine mark the all-time single-season school record. For her career, the junior has 139 made career 3-pointers, which leaves her just three away from tying the all-time school record for made 3's in a career (142).

A closer look at coach Smith’s profile:

For the previous eight seasons, Smith has been with head coach Jennifer Smith for every step of the journey, which has landed LHU women’s basketball back on the grid for PSAC women’s hoops.

He has helped lead the Bald Eagles to new heights, reaching the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs in the 2014-15 and 15-16 seasons for the first time since the 1990-91 season.

The 2017-18 season was marked by a very young squad that saw young talent mature as sophom*ore guard Rileigh Devine lead the team in points per game with 10.9. Freshman guard Bink Redman went on a hot streak with four consecutive double-doubles. She led the team in rebounds per game (5.4), assists per game (2.4), blocks (0.7) and steals per game (1.2).

In 2016-17 the Bald Eagles just missed the PSAC playoffs as they finished with a 10-16 overall record and a 7-15 PSAC Conference record. Lysa Mealing led the way as she recorded 16 double-doubles on the year which helped her become the PSAC leader in rebounds for the second straight year. After her tremendous season, she was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year as well as a PSAC East second team member. Mealing finished her LHU career ranked No. 2 in total rebounds and rebounds per game.

The 2015-16 season was highlighted by junior, Lysa Mealing, who led all of NCAA Division II in rebounds per game (13.7). She totaled 343 boards on the year which set a new season school record. She also broke the single game rebound record with 25 in an overtime win v.s. Kutztown University. The team finished first in the PSAC in rebounding margin, second in field goal percentage defense, and third in 3-point field goal percentage defense while ending the season with an 11-16 overall mark before falling to a strong Millersville University team in the First Round of playoffs.

Smith was instrumental in leading the Bald Eagles on a remarkable run during the 2014-15 season.

Smith helped guide LHU on a sensational run during the 2014-15 season. Lock Haven made its first PSAC playoff appearance in 24 years and finished the season with an overall record of 11-16 and The Haven was 10-12 in conference play. The team also was clutch down the stretch as the Bald Eagles won four of their last five games to finish tied for fourth in the PSAC Eastern Division.

Smith plays a key role in all aspects of the program, and in 2013-14, he helped lead Marrysa Moyer to All-PSAC honors. Moyer was named to the Second Team after leading the Bald Eagles all year and proving to be one of the best all-around players in the conference. She finished the season with 14.8 points per game and 8.6 rebounds a game, which ranked her 11th and seventh, respectively in the PSAC.

In all, Smith has helped two players to All-PSAC honors.

Zack Smith, 2008 graduate of Penn State is a noted recruiter.

A native of Hillsborough, New Jersey, Smith spent the 2009-10 season as a volunteer assistant coach with The Haven.

While at Penn State, Coach Smith served as a manager with the men’s basketball team from 2004-2008. In those seasons, Smith assisted with the training of Division I players including two All-Big Ten selections and the All-Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also developed off-season workouts, attended daily practices and assisted with various event operations.

In addition to the time he spent with the Nittany Lions, Zack Smith has also worked as a Coach for numerous camps and clinics across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Beyond coaching, his responsibilities with these camps included booking of players and locations, attaining local business sponsors, organizing skill development and activities for the camp, and digitally recording and editing film.

Prior to Penn State, Smith attended Hillsborough High School in New Jersey where he was an All-Area basketball player. Upon graduation, Smith became the director of multiple recreation basketball leagues in Hillsborough from 2004-09.

*Updated May 10, 2024