Karl Smesko

Karl Smesko
Smesko in 2012
Atlanta Dream
PositionHead coach
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1970-10-02) October 2, 1970 (age 54)
Bath Township, Ohio
Career information
CollegeKent State (1992–1993)
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career1997–present
Career history
As coach:
1997–1998Walsh
1998–1999Maryland (Asst.)
1999–2001IPFW
2002–2024Florida Gulf Coast
2025–presentAtlanta Dream
Career highlights and awards

Karl Wade Smesko (born October 2, 1970)[1] is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. He previously served as the founding head coach of the Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball team from 2002 to 2024.

High school

Born in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, Smesko played point guard for Revere High School. He was considered strong, but not fast. He played well enough to garner interest from a small college in Oakland, California, but he chose to attend Kent State University.[2]

College career

While at Kent State, pursuing a communications degree, Smesko attempted to walk on to the basketball team but initially was unsuccessful. He tried again as a senior, and made the team. However, he ended up leaving the team to help care for a family member. He graduated summa cum laude in 1993.[2][3]

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Smesko started coaching boys' basketball at his alma mater, Revere High School, while still in college. [4] He briefly worked as an intern at a local TV station, but he preferred coaching so he decided to pursue a coaching career. He had attended basketball camps run by Bob Knight and became enamored with Knight's coaching philosophy. He continued to coach at the high school, while reaching out to secure a college position. Among the coaches he contracted was Herb Sendek, the head coach at Arizona State University. Sendek didn't have a position for him, but did have some advice, urging Smesko obtain his master's degree.[3]

Walsh University (1997–1998)

One of the local schools, Walsh University, had a suitable program, but the position came with a requirement to assist with the women's basketball program. He had never considered coaching women's basketball but he accepted the opportunity. He assisted the head coach with weight room and workout sessions for the players, as well as tape analysis. He completed his master's in a year, and then planned to take a job as an assistant with a men's basketball team. However, Michelle Steele, the head coach of the team, resigned at the end of the 1996–97 season. The players approached the athletic director of Walsh, Jim Dennison, to push him to name Smesko to the head coaching position. It didn't take much pushing, as Dennison was supportive. Smesko accepted the position.[3] The Cavaliers, who had been 105–117 under their prior coach, were not expected to be a strong team. They were picked to finish in sixth place in the nine-team Mid-Ohio Conference. Under Smesko, the team improved. In the Mid-Ohio Conference tournament, the team made it to the championship game, but lost to Shawnee State. The team assumed they needed a win to earn the automatic bid to the Division II tournament, so the players left to head home for spring break. However, the selection committee chose Walsh as the final bid to the 32-team postseason tournament. As the last team in the field, they were not expected to win a single game. Smesko's father did not consider making the drive to attend the tournament, held in Sioux City, Iowa. After winning their third game, Smesko called his father to let him know the Cavaliers were still playing. Despite a snowstorm, his father made the drive, which took ten hours, to reach the tournament. The team defeated Doane College in the semi-final, then faced Mary Hardin-Baylor in the championship game. Walsh scored a come-from-behind victory to secure the National Championship, the first time ever an unseeded team had won an NAIA National Championship. The accomplishment helped Semsko earn NAIA Coach of the Year honors.[3][5][6][7]

Maryland (1998–1999)

Smesko accepted an assistant coaching position at Maryland in 1998. He served as an assistant under Chris Weller. He remained in that position for one season.[4]

IPFW (1999–2001)

After that season, Smesko was hired by IPFW[a] as the head coach of the women's basketball program. The Mastodons had gone 6–20 in 1997–98, and dropped to 2–24 in 1998–99. Under Smesko, the team improved to 13–14 in 1999–2000, and improved again in the following year to produce a 19–8 record.[8]

FGCU (2002–2024)

Smesko's success didn't go unnoticed. FGCU approached him about becoming the head of the women's basketball program. At the time, the school did not have a basketball program. The school had only been founded in 1991, with classes not having started until 1997, and not only had no team, it had no real athletic facilities. The plans at the time were to start as an NAIA program, while applying for NCAA Division II status. Despite the challenges, Smesko accepted the position, and spent the next year working out of the school's trailer to build a program from scratch. He persuaded players to come to the school, even though the first workout would take place on asphalt outdoor courts, while the school built an indoor facility.[9][10] In his first game, his team won by 17 points. By the time the season ended, they had but a single loss for a record of 30–1. The team continued to excel, amassing a record of 132–21 as a DII team. In 2007, FGCU applied to become a Division I school, as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference, now known as the ASUN Conference. The Eagles have competed in that conference ever since, finishing first or second in the conference every year. In 2011, they completed the transition to full Division I status, and eligibility for postseason tournaments.[9][10] Under his leadership, FGCU has made the Division I NCAA Tournament seven times, in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, pulling first round upsets in 2015 and 2018.

FGCU is one of only two Division I women's basketball teams, along with UConn, to win 25 or more games each of the last 14 seasons.[11]

Atlanta Dream (2025–present)

On November 13, 2024, Smesko was named the head coach of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. [12][13]

Head coaching record

Source:[14]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Walsh Cavaliers (Independent) (1997–1998)
1997–98 Walsh University 29–5 NAIA DII Champion
Walsh University: 29–5 (.853)
IPFW Mastodons (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1999–2001)
1999–2000 IPFW 13–14 9–11 8th
2000–01 IPFW 19–8 12–8 5th
IPFW: 32–22 (.593) 21–19 (.525)
FGCU Eagles (Independent (Division II)) (2001–2007)
2002–03 FGCU 30–1
2003–04 FGCU 18–8
2004–05 FGCU 21–9
2005–06 FGCU 29–2 NAIA DII Elite Eight
2006–07 FGCU 34–1 NAIA DII Runner-Up
FGCU (Independent): 132–21 (.863)
FGCU Eagles (Atlantic Sun) (2007–2024)
2007–08 FGCU 22–9 12–3 2nd WNIT Second Round
2008–09 FGCU 26–5 17–3 1st WNIT Second Round
2009–10 FGCU 24–7 17–3 2nd WNIT First Round
2010-11 FGCU 28–4 17–3 1st WNIT Second Round
2011–12 FGCU 29–3 18–0 1st NCAA First round
2012–13 FGCU 27–7 18–0 1st WNIT First Round
2013–14 FGCU 26–8 17–1 1st NCAA First round
2014–15 FGCU 31–3 14–0 1st NCAA Second round
2015–16 FGCU 33–6 14–0 1st WNIT Runner Up
2016–17 FGCU 26–9 12–2 2nd NCAA First Round
2017–18 FGCU 31–5 13–1 1st NCAA Second Round
2018–19 FGCU 28–5 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
2019–20 FGCU 30–3 15–1 1st Postseason not held due to COVID-19
2020–21 FGCU 26–3 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
2021–22 FGCU 30–3 15–1 1st NCAA Second Round
2022–23 FGCU 33–4 17–1 1st NCAA Second Round
2023–24 FGCU 29–4 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
2024–25 FGCU 0–2 0–0
FGCU (ASun): 479–91 (.840) 264–19 (.933)
FGCU (All): 611–112 (.845) 264–19 (.933)
Total: 672–139 (.829)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal

Smesko's father, Albert, coached high school boys' basketball and is a member of the Akron Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His brother, Kyle, coaches football as the offensive coordinator for Allegheny College[15]

Awards and honors

  • 1998—NAIA Coach of the Year[4][5]
  • 1998—Mid-Ohio Conference Coach of the Year[4]
  • 2007—DII South Region Coach of the Year
  • 2009—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[16]
  • 2011—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[16]
  • 2012—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[16]
  • 2012—Kay Yow Award[17][18]
  • 2012—Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame (as coach of the 1998 Walsh University National Champions)[5]
  • 2013—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[19]
  • 2013—Coach of the Year College Sports Madness 2013 All-Mid Major Teams[20]
  • 2014—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[21]
  • 2015—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[22]
  • 2016—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[23]
  • 2016—espnW Mid-Major Coach of the Year[24]
  • 2018—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[25]
  • 2019—Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year[26]

Footnotes

  1. ^ In 2018, the Indiana University and Purdue University systems dissolved IPFW, with each system creating a new Fort Wayne campus. The IPFW athletic program was transferred to the larger of the two successor institutions, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and now competes as Purdue Fort Wayne.

See also

References

  1. ^ Caldwell, Dana (October 4, 2012). "A Belated Happy Birthday to Smesko". Naples Daily News. USA Today. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Rothman, Matt (February 21, 2018). "The successful journey for Karl Smesko". Eagle News. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Caldwell, Dana (March 17, 2017). "Pushing all the right buttons". Naples Daily News. USA Today. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "National Coach of Year Joins Women's Basketball Staff". University of Maryland. August 14, 1998. Archived from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Walsh University Women '98". Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "1998 Women's Basketball National Champions". Walsh University. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "NAIA Women's Division II Basketball Tournament". Sports Illustrated. CNN. March 22, 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "IPFW Basketball Media Guide". November 6, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Hays, Graham (February 22, 2012). "FGCU eyes first NCAA tournament". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Smesko Top Pick in Bid for FGCU Women's Basketball Coach" (Press release). FGCU. May 2, 2001. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  11. ^ "Dream hire Florida Gulf Coast's Smesko as coach". ESPN.com. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "Karl Smesko steps down as women's basketball head coach". FGCU Athletics. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "SMESKO'S YEAR-BY-YEAR HEAD COACHING RECORD". FGCU. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  15. ^ Delaney, Corbin (August 1, 2012). "One Noah Isn't Enough For Coach Smesko at Florida Gulf Coast". Noah Basketball. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c "Atlantic Sun Recordbook" (PDF). Atlantic Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "College basketball: All quiet so far for FGCU women's coach Karl Smesko". Naples Daily News. USA Today. April 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  18. ^ "FGCU's Karl Smesko Next on Friday's A-Sun Insider". Atlantic Sun Conference. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013.
  19. ^ Church, Jamie (October 7, 2013). "Hansen and Smesko Earn Top Preseason Honors from College Sports Madness". FGCU. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  20. ^ "Madness Women's Basketball 2012-2013 All-Mid Major Teams". College Sports Madness. March 12, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  21. ^ "#ASunWBB All-Conference Awards Announced" (Press release). Atlantic Sun Conference. March 10, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "Knight Voted @ASunWBB Player of Year; All-Conference Team Announced" (Press release). Atlantic Sun Conference. March 4, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "FGCU's Whitney Knight Highlights @ASunWBB Postseason Awards" (Press release). Atlantic Sun Conference. March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "College basketball: FGCU's Karl Smesko named espnW Mid-Major Coach of Year". Naples Daily News. March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  25. ^ "Loren Cagle Nabs Player of the Year; First in Lipscomb History" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "FGCU's Ulel Highlights 2019 @ASUNWBB Postseason Awards" (Press release). ASUN Conference. March 7, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2020.

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