Head Coach Michael Cooper, 12-year NBA veteran, five-time NBA champion and former University of New Mexico star, is going big and “Mean” at the assistant coach spot. Coach Larry Smith, affectionately known as “Mr. Mean” adds 23-years of NBA experience to create the most heralded coaching staff in the NBA Development League. Coach Smith has spent the last 10 years with Rudy Tomjanovich’s staff with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

“Coach Larry Smith is an awesome addition to our coaching staff. Not only did he have a long and successful career as a player, he helped Rudy Tomjanovich lead the Rockets to back to back championships and has coached some of the league’s best big men for the last decade,” team president Billy Widner said. “Coach Smith and Coach Cooper will definitely lay the groundwork for a tradition of excellence for the Thunderbirds organization.”

Smith played in 883 regular season games (525 starts) during a 13-year playing career with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 25.9 minutes, 6.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game before retiring at the conclusion of the 1992-93 season. He averaged double-figure rebounds in five seasons and at least nine rebounds per game in three more seasons as a player.

Prior to his stint with the Lakers, Smith served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks (2003-04) and the Houston Rockets (1993-2003). He has extensive experience in helping develop young inside players and helped lead the Houston Rockets to back to back NBA Championships in 1993 and 1994.

Smith, 47, earned both his Master of Science (Athletic Administration) and Bachelor of Science (Recreation Administration) degrees at Alcorn State University.