Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
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Garner Small joined the women's basketball staff as an assistant coach in May 2025.
He spent the three seasons prior at UT Martin, where he also served as an assistant coach. Focusing on defensive philosophy and player development, he oversaw the development of six All-OVC nominees. In 2023-24, the Skyhawks were second in the conference with 58 points allowed per game and were top three in opponent field goal percentage from both three-point range and inside the arc.Â
He joined the Skyhawks after spending four seasons at Gardner-Webb under Simmons. As associate head coach during the 2021-22 campaign, the Runnin’ Bulldogs went 13-5 in the Big South and reached the conference tournament semifinal. Â
During his tenure with the Runnin’ Bulldogs, the squad posted a 61-54 overall record while going 46-27 during Big South play. Prior to his tenure at Gardner-Webb, he spent the 2017-18 season as the video coordinator at Ole Miss, where Simmons was an assistant coach.Â
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His previous coaching stops also include a season as an assistant coach at Claredon College in Texas and two years as a graduate assistant and video coordinator for the UT Martin men’s basketball program from 2014-16. Â
Before joining the Skyhawks, Small was an assistant coach at his alma mater Olivet College in 2013-14 after averaging 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a senior.Â
Small graduated from Olivet College in 2014 with a bachelor's of science. He later earned a master's in business administration from UT Martin in 2016.Â
His wife, Bailey (maiden name Wright), is a Humboldt, Tenn. native and served as a manager for the women’s basketball program from 2012-15 as the Skyhawks won a pair of OVC regular season and tournament titles. The couple has two sons, Landon and Kash.
