Loyola promotes G.G. Smith, son of Tubby Smith, to head basketball coach

BALTIMORE – G.G. Smith has been promoted to head basketball coach at Loyola University after a six-year run as an assistant at the Maryland school.

Smith, the son of longtime college coach Tubby Smith, was introduced at a news conference on Friday. He replaces Jimmy Patsos, who left for Siena this month after a successful nine-year stint with the Greyhounds.

Under Patsos, Smith's primary responsibilities were recruiting, player development and opponent scouting. Before coming to Loyola, Smith spent the 2006-2007 season as an assistant at Johns Hopkins University.

The 36-year-old Smith becomes the 20th head coach in Loyola history. He inherits a program that won 62 games over the past three seasons and reached the NCAA tournament in 2012.

Patsos says Smith "was a huge part of our success."