N. Babylon's Erik Smiles Named Head Coach of LIU Post Men's Basketball

North Babylon resident Erik Smiles was named the new head coach of the LIU Post men's basketball team on Monday. 

Smiles is the 10th head coach in the 56-year history of the Pioneers' program. Smiles spent the last 10 years on the staff at Farmingdale State College, serving as an assistant coach from 2002-04 before taking over as head coach in 2004. 

“It's an honor to be named the men's basketball coach at LIU Post,” Smiles said, “The success of the Pioneer teams – from women's lacrosse to men's soccer to both basketball programs – is incredible. There is a tradition of success for the men's basketball program over the past 30 years, starting with Coach Galeazzi and continuing with Coach Cluess and Coach Casey, and I'm excited to keep the tradition going." 

Smiles was the Skyline Coach of the Year three times and also received accolades as the 2005 and 2006 Basketball Coaches Association of New York Coach of the Year, the 2006 D3.com Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, the 2008 All-Met Coach of the Year and the 2009 NABC Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

Click here to watch a YouTube video of Monday's press conference at which Smiles was named the new coach at Post.