Story Courtesy: Cole Helman, PBA Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
Palm Beach Atlantic University Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans has announced Grahm Smith as the next head coach of the PBA women’s basketball program.
“We are so excited to welcome Grahm back home to PBA to coach our women’s basketball program,” Lovely Evans said. “In addition to his on-court accomplishments, I believe he will be a tremendous fit in our department and serve as a strong leader to help develop our student-athletes as people. I am confident that Grahm is the right person to continue the progress Sailfish women’s basketball has made and elevate us to the next level.”
Smith, who graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic in 2008, brings a proven track record as a head coach home to West Palm Beach. Most recently, he served five seasons as the head coach at fellow NCAA Division II institution Lenoir-Rhyne. He helped lead the Bears to new heights during his tenure, notching back-to-back 20-win seasons from 2022–24—the program’s first since 2009. Those seasons resulted in a pair of NCAA tournament appearances and a South Atlantic Conference tournament championship.
“First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans and everyone involved in the hiring committee and interview process for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve and lead the Palm Beach Atlantic University women’s basketball program,” Smith said. “I am incredibly grateful, honored, and excited to accept the position and return to Palm Beach Atlantic University. To have the opportunity to coach, work, and serve at a Christ-centered university that played such a pivotal role in shaping me spiritually, academically, and athletically—and to be able to give back to a place that has meant so much to me—is truly a dream come true.”
During his time at LR, Smith led the program to eight top-25 wins and the best ranking in team history, going as high as No. 3 in the country. The Bears recorded the second-most conference wins in program history in 2023–24, leading to a second-place finish in the conference standings—their best since 2014. Smith leaves LR as the third-winningest coach in the history of the program.
“Throughout the hiring process, the vision and passion that Courtney and her staff shared with me made it incredibly clear that PBA is a truly special place—not only to coach at, but to have the privilege of investing in and developing young women,” Smith said. “It speaks volumes about the heart and direction of PBA Athletics. My wife Whitney and I are truly humbled and could not be more excited to join the community of West Palm Beach and make PBA our new home. We are deeply grateful for God’s perfect timing in leading us to this opportunity, where we can make an everlasting impact. We are thrilled to take this next step at PBA.”
Before Lenoir-Rhyne, Smith led the program at William Peace University from 2018–20. He guided the team to a USA South Conference regular-season championship and was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 2019–20. Smith led the Pacers to their first NCAA Division III tournament appearance in any sport in the school’s history.
Smith started as a head coach at Dean College from 2013–18. He left Dean as the winningest coach in program history after making three straight national tournament appearances. Before leading Dean’s program, Smith served as an assistant at Rockford University in Illinois while earning his master’s degree in education.
“I am very excited for the future of PBA Women’s Basketball and am looking forward to establishing a culture of excellence that prepares our players for success in life, the classroom, and on the court,” Smith said. “I cannot wait to get to campus and begin engaging with the PBA community, and I know that together, we’ll work to achieve excellence on and off the court.”
Smith began his coaching career in women’s basketball during his time at PBA. He served as a student assistant for the Sailfish women’s basketball team after his playing career was cut short due to injury. He graduated from PBA with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
