Frank Smith is in his first year as the Associate Athletic Director at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

The Gary, Indiana native comes to Texas A&M-Commerce with a solid professional background and the knowledge, management and interpersonal skills to help lead A&M-Commerce athletics to becoming a national leader.

"We are excited to have Frank become a member of our A&M-Commerce family. Frank brings a wealth of financial, personnel and management experience to our team. His background in sports, marketing and sales will be an asset to our athletic program," said Carlton Cooper, athletic director.

"I know what the vision that Carlton has for the program. I know I can help us get there. I am excited to help build this program and further establish it at a new level," said Smith.

For the last eight years, Smith has worked in the private business sector, primarily in financial areas and he will assist the athletic department with that expertise. Seven of those years were in the banking business were he was actively involved with the management, sales and training as well as customer service.

For nearly five years, Smith was a Sports Development Team Leader for Sports Tasman in Nelson, New Zealand. He was responsible for the organization and maintenance of the budget, sport development, fundraising and strategic planning.

Smith attended Gary Emerson High School, where he holds the all-time scoring and rebound records. He went on to be a four-year starter as a forward at the University of Arizona from 1979 to 1983, where he was an eighth-round selection of the Portland Trail Blazers. As a senior, he was voted team MVP and team captain. As a junior, he was named team MVP and team captain as well as first team all-Pac 10 in 1981-82 after averaging 14.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. He ranks among the best all-time in Wildcat history with 1,329 career points, 84 blocked shots and a 53.4% field-goal shooting percent. A three-time team rebounding champion and four-time blocked shots leader and he also tallied 16 double-double performances over his last two seasons.

After being cut by the Trail Blazers at the end of training camp, Smith went on to have a professional career throughout the world, eventually in New Zealand, where he met and played with Carlton Cooper in 1987.

At the University of Arizona, Smith earned his bachelor's degree in personnel management with a minor in business management.

Smith and his wife, Kimberley have two children Alex (12) and Toiya (8) and two dogs, Tolstoy and Squirt.

Smith has three sisters - Marilyn, Francine and Sonda - who all live in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area.