UWF Hires Tanner Smith as New Men's Basketball Coach

University of West Florida athletics program makes historic move to Division I

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and orange, conceptually representing the strategic challenges of building a new Division I basketball program.The University of West Florida's transition to Division I athletics will require a bold, innovative approach to building competitive sports programs.Pensacola Today

The University of West Florida has hired Tanner Smith as its new men's basketball head coach, as the school's athletics program prepares to make the transition to Division I competition in the fall of 2026. UWF's football team will join the UAC conference, while all other sports will compete in the ASUN.

Why it matters

This is a major milestone for the University of West Florida, as the school elevates its entire athletics department to the Division I level. The move to Division I will raise the national profile of UWF and provide new opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level of collegiate sports.

The details

Tanner Smith, an experienced coach with a proven track record of success, will lead the UWF men's basketball team as they make the transition to Division I. Smith's hiring is seen as a key step in building a competitive program that can compete against top-tier opponents in the ASUN conference.

  • The University of West Florida will officially move to Division I in the fall of 2026.
  • UWF's football team will join the UAC conference, while all other sports will compete in the ASUN.

The players

Tanner Smith

The new head coach of the University of West Florida men's basketball team, bringing extensive experience and a track record of success to lead the program's transition to Division I competition.

University of West Florida

A public university located in Pensacola, Florida, that is elevating its entire athletics department to the Division I level, joining the UAC conference for football and the ASUN conference for all other sports.

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The takeaway

The University of West Florida's move to Division I athletics is a significant milestone for the school and the Pensacola community, providing new opportunities for student-athletes and elevating the national profile of the university's sports programs.