Rockford University

Mark Smith arrives at Rockford University after serving as an assistant coach and head JV coach at North Park University. During his tenure with the Vikings, Smith helped the program capture the 2023 CCIW Men's Basketball Tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1987. North Park also recorded 24 wins — the program’s highest total since the 1986-87 season — while posting back-to-back top-four finishes in the CCIW for the first time since 1993-94.
At North Park, Smith coached and recruited six all-conference players while assisting with scouting reports, game plans, and player development using FastDraw and FastScout. He also directed position-specific development and conditioning plans for more than 20 student-athletes and worked closely with both the varsity and JV programs.

Prior to North Park, Smith served as a graduate assistant and JV head coach at Trinity International University during the 2021-22 season. There, he assisted with weightlifting sessions, post player development plans, travel coordination, scheduling, and facility maintenance while helping the JV team achieve the best single-season record in program history.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Smith worked as Director of Regional Basketball Operations and Development for Illinois Pro Academy beginning in 2026. In that role, he oversaw facility operations, coordinated events, managed logistics, assisted with marketing efforts, and developed tryout and practice plans. Smith also coached 17U teams competing on the Adidas 3SSB and 3 Stripe Gold circuits.

Smith additionally served as head coach for Bulldogs 13U AAU in 2025, helping guide player development and team operations.
Smith earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership/Sport Management from Waldorf University in 2025, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.91 GPA. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Pre-Medical from Trinity International in 2022, where he was a member of the university’s 2017 Elite Eight team that set the school record with 30 wins. Smith was also a three-time all-conference academic student-athlete.