FORMER BRUINS PICK UP THE WHISTLE
BRUIN ALUMNI ‘22
JAMILYN KINNEY
Recently, several former Belmont student-athletes have entered the coaching ranks at various levels across the country. The next generation of Bruin coaches join other established Bruin coaching alumni such as Casey Alexander, Jeff Langdon, Mauricio Antun, Mick Hedgepeth, Brian “Penny” Collins, Craig Bradshaw, Reece Chamberlain, Sierra Jones, Cristin Czubick Allen, Kyle Roelke, Adam Sonn and more.
GIRL’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
NEW SCHOOL
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FAY E T T E V I L L E , A K
Prior to graduating from Belmont University in May 2022, women’s basketball’s Jamilyn Kinney has been selected to lead The New School’s girl’s basketball program in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Returning to her home state, Kinney was named head coach at Northwest Arkansas’ premier independent day school Monday afternoon. A native of Van Buren, Arkansas, which is about 52 miles south/
LUKE SMITH
MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH K N O X V I L L E C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
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KNOWVILLE , TN
southwest of Fayetteville, Kinney has been one of the Bruins’ mainstays in the backcourt the last four years. The 2020 AllOhio Valley Conference Second Team guard was a preseason All-OVC pick heading into her junior campaign before earning OVC All-Tournament Team honors at the 2021 OVC Tournament. Aiding Belmont in six combined conference championships, including three regular season and three tournament titles, Kinney played an integral role in the Bruins’ NCAA Tournament victories the past two seasons. Starting in each of Belmont’s last 81 games, Kinney helped lead the Bruins to back-to-back historic wins on a national scale at the NCAA Tournament. With Kinney’s gritty, defensive play and
Last November, Knoxville Catholic High School announced Luke
diverse collection of Division I men’s basketball student-athletes
savvy offensive prowess, Belmont knocked off fifth-seeded and
Smith as the next head basketball coach of the Fighting Irish
that provides valuable perspective and feedback on college
14th-ranked Gonzaga in the 2021 NCAA Tournament First Round
following the retirement of Coach Michael Hutchens after the
basketball issues.
for the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory before the
2021-2022 basketball season.
“We are thrilled to welcome Luke Smith as the next head coach
Smith is a 2017 graduate of Knoxville Catholic and played under
of men’s basketball at Knoxville Catholic,” said KCHS President
Coach Hutchens from 2014-17, where he was a TSSAA 2017 Mr.
Dickie Sompayrac. “Luke is not just committed to Catholic’s
Bruins took down fifth-seeded Oregon in this year’s opening round. After becoming only the second team in Division I women’s basketball history to win NCAA Tournament games in consecutive seasons as a No. 12 seed or lower, Belmont came
Basketball Finalist, a member of the 2017 All-State Team and the
passion for excellence in athletics and academics, he has lived
captain of the Fighting Irish 2017 State Runner-Up Team. Smith
it. He has been a student-athlete, a team captain and champion.
signed with Sewanee: The University of the South, where he led
Luke is prepared and committed to drive the continued tradition
Reaching double figures 21 times throughout her Bruin career,
the Tigers to become the 2019 Southern Athletic Association
of our basketball program.”
Kinney finished with 667 points, 311 assists and 258 rebounds. In
(SAA) Tournament Champions and advanced the team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. He was also the 2019 SAA Tournament MVP. Luke’s success at Sewanee led him to Belmont University. He
Smith officially took over the reins of the Fighting Irish men’s basketball program following Hutchens retirement from the game. “I feel extremely honored and fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Coach Hutchens and the incredible foundation
within one ball bounce of the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance.
her senior season, Kinney ranked among national leaders with a 2.57 assist/turnover ratio and was third among OVC active career assist leaders. A regular on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Kinney
was named to the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer
that’s been laid. I appreciate all the confidence Knoxville
will graduate Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in sport
Team, was a two-time Academic All-American, and was honored
Catholic has in me, and I will be ready to get to work when the
administration and a minor in strength and conditioning.
as the 2021 DC Paradise Jam MVP. Luke served as Team Captain
time comes. I couldn’t be more excited to work with the players,
of the Bruins in his final season at Belmont (2021-22).
students, and community at Knoxville Catholic,” said Smith.
He also serves as a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player Development Coalition, a
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2022–23 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE | 36
BRUIN ALUMNI ‘21
