Allegheny College Athletics

After a solid playing career for the Gators, Branson Smith '17 joined the Allegheny coaching staff in September 2016.

Smith graduated from Allegheny with a degree in history, after a solid playing career in the Blue and Gold.  A power forward, Smith appeared in 74 games with 59 starts, averaging 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game with a .515 field goal percentage, while his 72 career blocked shots rank sixth all-time in program history. 
 
As a junior in 2013-14, Smith ranked fifth in the North Coast Athletic conference with 39 blocks, while he scored 10 or more points in nine different games, with three double-doubles.  The next season, he started the first nine games of the season, averaging 11.2 points with a conference-best .670 field goal percentage, before missing the final 16 contests due to injury.  In his last game of the year, Smith turned in one of the finest single-game performances in team history, as he scored 20 points, on 10-for-10 shooting, in a Dec. 9 meeting with Kenyon.  He recovered from injury to average 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 2015-16, scoring in double figures 11 times, posting three double-doubles, and again ranking in the top-10 in the NCAC with a .517 field goal percentage.
 
"I really enjoyed having the opportunity to coach Brandon during his senior year and build a relationship with him," said head coach Bob Simmons.  "We had talked all season about him getting into coaching, and I was very happy that he decided to stay on with us as an assistant.  Brandon brings great knowledge of Allegheny College, and will be able to help our younger student-athletes navigate through their academics.  I am excited for Brandon to start his coaching career, and to help him develop as a coach and mentor for young men.