STOCKTON, Calif. – At the beginning of July, Pacific Men's Basketball Head Coach Dave Smart was announced a part of Canada Basketball's Canadian Basketball 2026 Hall of Fame Class after building one of the most dominant dynasties in Canadian Basketball History.

Smart was one of two coaches in the ten-person class that included former NBA talent Jamaal Magloire.

"Being inducted to the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame is a great honor and I truly appreciate the people who were kind enough to show so much respect to the players that came through Carleton, the Guardsmen and the Ottawa Elite programs," Smart said.
 
"To be inducted as a coach is more credit to the incredible players that I was able to have on my teams, then anything I did. I am very proud of the type of character and talent we were able to have involved in all three of those programs and I take great pride in knowing I was part of that selection process."
 
Prior to his arrival at Pacific, Smart spent 19 seasons building Carleton University into a collegiate basketball powerhouse and perennial championship contender that netted the Ravens 13 national titles. Twice under his leadership Carleton won five consecutive championships (2002-07 and 2010-15) and, beginning with that 2002-03 championship run, never finished the season worse than a national semifinalist.

In his tenure, CU won more than 90% of their games and during the last three seasons went a combined 64-1 in conference play and 98-3 overall.  

Many of the tactics that earned Smart a reputation as one of the architects of the modern Canadian collegiate hoops scene have been applied to his time in Stockton, and to early success. Focusing on defensive intensity, team-first principles, conditioning, embracing data and a meticulous approach, Smart's approach can be summed up as building a sustainable winning culture.

Within two seasons at the helm, Pacific boasted a top-60 ranked scoring defense, a top-50 rebounding attack and a top-10 rebounding margin nationally. On the offensive half of the court, Smart's leadership has helped earn the Tigers top-70 marks at the free throw line and beyond the three-point arc. The effect of these principles and successes resulted in the Tigers jumping 183 spots between his two seasons in the final NET rankings – going from 297th after his first season to finishing this past season 114th.

"Coach Smart is one of the most deserving people to have earned this honor and I could not be happier to see his work recognized at the highest level in Canada," Pacific Athletic Director Adam Tschuor said. "It was evident during our search that Coach Smart knew what it took to build a winner and watching him lay the foundation at Pacific has me excited for what's still to come with our program in his already Hall of Fame career."

Smart will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 20 during a ceremony in St. Stephen and St. Andrew in New Brunswick.
 
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