Brookville, N.Y. – LIU Post Director of
Athletics Bryan Collins announced on Monday that former Farmingdale
State head coach Erik Smiles has been appointed the tenth head
men's basketball coach in the 56-year history of the Pioneers'
program.
“After receiving great interest and response to our open
men's basketball position, we were excited that an excellent
candidate emerged in Coach Erik Smiles,” said Collins.
“We were impressed by his success at Farmingdale State and
the fine teams he produced. We are confident he is the right person
to continue the storied tradition of our Pioneer men's basketball
program. Most importantly, we think Coach Smiles will continue our
athletic department's foundations of excellence in producing
student athletes of great character. We believe he will be a
valuable addition to both our LIU Post athletic family and the LIU
community as a whole.”
“It's an honor to be named the men's basketball coach at LIU
Post,” said Smiles. “The success of the Pioneer teams
– from women's lacrosse to men's soccer to both basketball
programs – is incredible. There is a tradition of
success for the men's basketball program over the past 30 years,
starting with Coach Galeazzi and continuing with Coach Cluess and
Coach Casey, and I'm excited to keep the tradition going. I'm
honored to follow Coach Casey, and I'm left with a great group of
players to work with. I'm very excited by this opportunity to work
with Coach Collins in continuing the tradition of success for men's
basketball and the entire LIU Post athletic department."
Smiles spent the last 10 years on the staff at Farmingdale State
College, serving as an assistant coach from 2002-04 before taking
over as head coach in 2004. During nine seasons at the helm, Smiles
amassed a career record of 182-72. He led the Rams to four
Skyline Regular Season titles and three Skyline Tournament
Championships while posting six 20+ win seasons. The Rams
also made the NCAA tournament four times under Smiles'
tutelage, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in 2009.
A highly decorated coach, Smiles was the Skyline Coach of the Year
three times and also received accolades as the 2005 and 2006
Basketball Coaches Association of New York Coach of the Year, the
2006 D3.com Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, the 2008 All-Met
Coach of the Year and the 2009 NABC Atlantic Region Coach of the
Year. Smiles coached twelve all-conference players, three Skyline
Players of the Year and two DIII All-Americans while at
Farmingdale.
Smiles is familiar with the East Coast Conference landscape, having
played collegiate basketball at the University of Bridgeport for
four years and graduating with a bachelor's degree in human
services in 2001. He resides in North Babylon, N.Y.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
