University of Missouri Athletics

Having helped the Missouri men’s basketball program reestablish itself on a national level, Kyle Smithpeters is in his fourth season on Tigers sideline and his first as the team's associate head coach.

Joining the Tigers after a highly-successful 10-year stint in charge at John A. Logan Community College, Smithpeters quickly translated that same winning mentality to the Division I level – helping Mizzou to one of the nation’s top turnarounds and two bids to the NCAA Tournament in his three years on campus.

During his first season with the program in 2022-23, the Tigers claimed their most wins in 11 years with 25 victories, while advancing to the SEC Tournament Semifinals for the first time. Overall, the nation’s seventh-largest win improvement – and most among power-conference programs – was capped by the Tigers’ first NCAA Tournament victory in 13 years.

Smithpeters and the Tigers didn’t slow down after the early success. He played a vital role in Mizzou securing the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class in 2023, leading to even more accomplishments in his third season on campus. During the 2024-25 campaign, the Tigers earned three wins over schools ranked in the top five nationally for the first time since 1988-89 as Mizzou placed sixth in a SEC that sent a record 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Advancing to the next level has also become common with Smithpeters on the Mizzou sideline. Following the 2022-23 season, two Tigers earned their shot in the NBA as Kobe Brown was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers, while D’Moi Hodge became the first player from the British Virgin Islands to feature in the league, playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Overall, five Tigers have signed with NBA franchises following their time at Mizzou with Sean East II (Lakers), Tamar Bates (Nuggets) and Caleb Grill (Bulls) inking free-agent deals.

The early accomplishments exhibited by Smithpeters and Mizzou was nothing new for the long-time head coach. In 10 years with the Volunteers, Smithpeters compiled a 241-73 record. He won at least 20 games in eight of his final nine seasons – falling short of the benchmark in only the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21.

An eight-time Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Smithpeters mentored two NJCAA National Players of the Year and 10 All-Americans during his tenure. He led also guided Logan to the national tournament four times, earning a top-five seed in his final three seasons with the program. Overall, Smithpeters coached more than 40 players that signed with Division I programs during his 10 seasons with the Volunteers.

Smithpeters began his coaching career at Southeastern Illinois before first serving as an assistant at John A. Logan for four seasons. Smithpeters then worked under head coach Paul Lusk at Missouri State for the 2011-12 season before taking over at the helm for the Volunteers.

A native of Harrisburg, Illinois, Smithpeters played two seasons of basketball at Southeastern Illinois College and led his team to a final four appearance in 2003. Following his success at Southeastern, he continued his collegiate career at Southern Illinois, helping the Salukis to two-straight NCAA Tournament berths.

Smithpeters and his wife, Carrie, have two children – son, Tobey, and daughter, Tatum.