Once a Monarch, always a Monarch. That’s Methodist University men’s head basketball coach David Smith.

 

Entering his ninth season at the helm of the Methodist University men’s basketball program, the former Methodist guard and assistant coach has brought the Monarchs back to being a championship-caliber team. In 2005-06, Smith won both his 100th game and also became the school’s all-time winningest coach.

As Monarch head coach, the two-time USA South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year has compiled a mark of 115-97 with three conference regular season championships, two conference tournament championships and two trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament over the last four seasons.

Over the last six seasons, Methodist has a conference record of 56-22 under Smith. In his eight seasons, he has produced 11 All-Conference selections, as well as a USA South Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and two USA South Tournament Most Valuable Players.
Smith previously served the Monarchs as an assistant varsity coach for four seasons under former head coach and current Methodist Director of Athletics Bob McEvoy.

In the 2004-05, Smith led Methodist to its best season since the 1996-97 season as the Monarchs posted a 20-8 overall mark and a 10-2 mark in the USA South for the conference regular season title. That was followed by a dominating performance in the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament and a second straight bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The highlight of the season was a 13-game winning streak, the program's longest streak since the 1996-97 season.

That season's success came on the heals of banner 2003-04 season. Smith led Methodist to an 18-10 overall record and 11-3 mark in the USA South Athletic Conference and the conference regular season championship. That was followed by the triumphant USA South Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and the team's first bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in seven years. Smith was honored as the USA South Coach of the Year.

Methodist built on the 2003-04 season after a 17-10 mark and a share of the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship in the 2002-03 season. It marked both the first DIAC championship and the most victories in a season for the Monarchs since the 1996-97. The Monarchs also finished 12-2 in the DIAC, their best record in conference play since the 1996-97 season, and Smith was honored as DIAC Coach of the Year.

Overall, Smith has paced the Monarchs to five winning seasons in his seven years, with marks of 14-11 in 2000-01 and 16-11 in 2001-02. Over the last five seasons, Methodist has a conference record of 49-16 under Smith. In his five seasons, he has produced 10 All-Conference selections, as well as one USA South Player of the Year, one DIAC Rookie of the Year and two USA South Tournament Most Valuable Players.

Smith had previously served the Monarchs as an assistant varsity coach for the four seasons under former head coach and current Methodist athletic director Bob McEvoy, in addition to serving as the head junior varsity coach.

Smith was a three-year starter at guard under head coach Charlie Babb at Seventy-First High School in Fayetteville. As a freshman at Methodist, he was part of the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 1978 led by head coach Joe Miller. After attending graduate school for one year at the University of North Carolina, Smith played one season professionally with the Derby Rams in England. He has served as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at South View High School in Hope Mills, N.C., as well as the head varsity coach at Keystone Heights High School in Florida for seven years.

Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Methodist in 1981. He and his wife Corinne are proud parents of seven year old daughter Gabrielle.



Tim Ryerson, Assistant Coach
tryerson@methodist.edu
(910) 630-7181

Back with the Methodist coaching staff for his third season as men's basketball assistant coach is Tim Ryerson.  Ryerson also serves as the men's and women's cross country head coach at Methodist. He served as the Interim Sports Information Director during his first season with the Monarchs.

Ryerson's main duties include on the floor coaching, recruiting, and scouting. He also serves as the head coach of the junior varsity team. 

Ryerson came to Methodist as the men's basketball assistant in 2005.  Prior to Methodist, he worked as Recreation Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls.  He also spent two seasons as the men's basketball assistant coach, adjunct physical education instructor, and recreation graduate assistant at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Tex., where he served under head coach Dylan Howard.  In addition to numerous summer camp experiences, Ryerson has coached internationally with USA Athletes International and has coached numerous sports at at three Wisconsin high schools; River Falls, Port Edwards, and Saint Mary Central.

Ryerson is a native of Hortonville, Wis.  He graduated from Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education/ Social Studies. He also received his master's degree in Sports and Recreation Management from Hardin-Simmons University in 2004.

Brandon Williams, Student Assistant Coach

Brandon Williams recently completed his career as a student-athlete at Methodist. Williams played in 25 games as a senior last season with 10 starts. He scored a career-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds to lead the team against Embry-Riddle. Williams reached double figure scoring in five games over the course of the season to average 6.4 points per game.

Originally from Gainesville, Fla., Williams has moved to the sidelines this season while completing his degree in Sport Management. Williams will assist with the varsity team coaching while taking a more prominent role with the junior varsity team.