TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State head baseball coach Lindsay Meggs announced today (July 26) the hiring of Chris Smart as assistant baseball coach. Smart replaces C.J. Keating, who resigned earlier this summer after four years with the program. Smart will serve as the program's pitching coach.
“I believe Chris Smart is in a very select group of outstanding young pitching coaches,” Meggs stated. “Chris has both the ability and the work ethic to help our pitchers climb the ladder in the always competitive Missouri Valley Conference. Look for coach Smart to have an immediate impact on our pitching staff.”
He comes to Indiana State after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at South Dakota State where he served as the program's pitching coach. 2007 was a banner season for the Jackrabbits as they tied for the most wins among NCAA Division I Independent teams with 34.
His pitching staff compiled a team ERA of 4.14, which marked the third lowest at SDSU since 1974, when aluminum bats began being used in NCAA baseball games. In Smart's time with the Jackrabbits, the team ERA has lowered four points from 2004 to 2007.
This past year, SDSU recorded 13 saves, which led all of the NCAA Division I Independents while also allowing the fewest walks (142). His team improved their win total by a count of 20 victories in his three seasons with the program. Smart had a pair of pitchers awarded First Team All-NCAA Division I Independent in 2007.
Currently, Smart is wrapping up a summer season as head coach of the Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. In 2005, Smart coached the Cheyenne Grizzlies of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League.
Smart played collegiate baseball at the University of Kansas, where he pitched for the Jayhawks from 2001-04. His 75 career appearances on the mound rank third all-time in the history of the program and he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as senior. He also earned First Team Big 12 All-Academic plaudits in 2004 while taking second team honors in 2003. He was an all-state selection at Omaha (Neb.) Westside High School in 2000.
