University of Massachusets Athletics
Kyle Smith Named Massachusetts Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach
August 29, 2025 | Men's Lacrosse
Smith, a former standout UMass attack, has been elevated from his associate head coach role
AMHERST, Mass. – Kyle Smith '14 has been promoted to head men's lacrosse coach at the University of Massachusetts, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced on Friday (Aug. 29).
"I am very pleased to promote associate head coach and alum Kyle Smith to lead our proud lacrosse program," Bamford said. "Like so many Gorilla alums who have worn the Maroon and White -- including his own father, Hall of Fame inductee Norm Smith '79, '91 -- Kyle is immensely passionate about the university and this special program. Without a doubt, he will also represent UMass with class like the head coaches before him. Kyle has been building himself to meet this moment since the day he grabbed his first coaching whistle, and it is a privilege to support him as he starts his head coaching journey at the flagship."
Smith succeeds Greg Cannella '88, who announced his retirement earlier on Friday (Aug. 29). Smith spent the past four seasons back at his alma mater on Cannella's staff as an assistant and then associate head coach.
"I'd like to thank Ryan and coach Cannella for their trust, support and mentorship," Smith said. "It is the honor of a lifetime to carry forward the Garber family and Cannella legacies. Thank you as well to all the Laxbackers and alums that have helped continue our strong UMass lacrosse tradition; your support is second to none. The University of Massachusetts is a special place, and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity."
Smith becomes just the fifth head coach in program history, dating back to 1954, following Al Goodyear (1954), Richard F. Garber (1955-1990), Ted Garber (1991-94) and Cannella (1995-2025). During Smith's tenure back with the Minutemen, Matt Knote earned Third Team USILA All-America honors and his players have combined for 13 Atlantic 10 All-Conference awards, eight NEILA All-New England selections, 47 NEILA All-Academic Team awards and five Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team honors.
Smith returned to Amherst following a seven-year stint with Merrimack men's lacrosse, where he helped the Warriors to two Division II National Championships. He served as an assistant coach for the Warriors from 2014-2019 before being promoted to associate head coach in August 2019, helping the program transition from Division II to Division I.
In Merrimack's two seasons at the Division I level, Smith coached two all-conference freshman team selections, one first-team all-conference honoree and one second-team all-conference player and helped guide the Warriors to a .500 record in just their second season of DI lacrosse.
In five years as a Division II assistant coach, Smith was a part of the most successful era of Merrimack Lacrosse as the squad advanced to the Final Four in both 2015 and 2016 before reaching the title game in 2017 followed by back-to-back National Championships in 2018 and 2019. The Warriors enjoyed unprecedented offensive success during that stretch with the help of Smith's guidance, consistently ranking among the nation's leaders in scoring offense and EMO statistics. In addition to the pair of national titles, Merrimack also won a Northeast 10 Conference Tournament title in 2018, were Co-Northeast 10 Regular Season Champions in 2019 and were five-time New England Champions (2015-19). The Warriors posted a record of 78-14 in Smith's five Division II seasons at Merrimack, including an 11-3 mark in NCAA Tournament play.
A former standout attack in his four seasons with the Minutemen (2010-13), Smith earned an All-CAA Second Team recognition in 2013 and a CAA All-Tournament team nod in 2012 after helping UMass to the Colonial Athletic Association title and a NCAA Tournament berth. Over his four seasons, he compiled 125 points on 79 goals and 46 assists to go along with 69 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers. He had 17 extra-man goals and nine game winners to his credit with 31 multi-point games in 60 career appearances, including 17 multi-goal games and a dozen hat tricks.
Upon graduating from UMass, Smith played professionally for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse from 2013-15. He earned his undergraduate degree in hospitality and tourism management from the Isenberg School of Management in 2014 and went on to receive his master's from Northeastern in sports leadership in 2016.
Smith's father, Norman Smith '79, was a two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame, UMass Athletics Hall of Fame, Western Massachusetts Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Smith's grandfather, Neville Smith, is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as well.
"I am very pleased to promote associate head coach and alum Kyle Smith to lead our proud lacrosse program," Bamford said. "Like so many Gorilla alums who have worn the Maroon and White -- including his own father, Hall of Fame inductee Norm Smith '79, '91 -- Kyle is immensely passionate about the university and this special program. Without a doubt, he will also represent UMass with class like the head coaches before him. Kyle has been building himself to meet this moment since the day he grabbed his first coaching whistle, and it is a privilege to support him as he starts his head coaching journey at the flagship."
Smith succeeds Greg Cannella '88, who announced his retirement earlier on Friday (Aug. 29). Smith spent the past four seasons back at his alma mater on Cannella's staff as an assistant and then associate head coach.
"I'd like to thank Ryan and coach Cannella for their trust, support and mentorship," Smith said. "It is the honor of a lifetime to carry forward the Garber family and Cannella legacies. Thank you as well to all the Laxbackers and alums that have helped continue our strong UMass lacrosse tradition; your support is second to none. The University of Massachusetts is a special place, and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity."
Smith becomes just the fifth head coach in program history, dating back to 1954, following Al Goodyear (1954), Richard F. Garber (1955-1990), Ted Garber (1991-94) and Cannella (1995-2025). During Smith's tenure back with the Minutemen, Matt Knote earned Third Team USILA All-America honors and his players have combined for 13 Atlantic 10 All-Conference awards, eight NEILA All-New England selections, 47 NEILA All-Academic Team awards and five Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team honors.
Smith returned to Amherst following a seven-year stint with Merrimack men's lacrosse, where he helped the Warriors to two Division II National Championships. He served as an assistant coach for the Warriors from 2014-2019 before being promoted to associate head coach in August 2019, helping the program transition from Division II to Division I.
In Merrimack's two seasons at the Division I level, Smith coached two all-conference freshman team selections, one first-team all-conference honoree and one second-team all-conference player and helped guide the Warriors to a .500 record in just their second season of DI lacrosse.
In five years as a Division II assistant coach, Smith was a part of the most successful era of Merrimack Lacrosse as the squad advanced to the Final Four in both 2015 and 2016 before reaching the title game in 2017 followed by back-to-back National Championships in 2018 and 2019. The Warriors enjoyed unprecedented offensive success during that stretch with the help of Smith's guidance, consistently ranking among the nation's leaders in scoring offense and EMO statistics. In addition to the pair of national titles, Merrimack also won a Northeast 10 Conference Tournament title in 2018, were Co-Northeast 10 Regular Season Champions in 2019 and were five-time New England Champions (2015-19). The Warriors posted a record of 78-14 in Smith's five Division II seasons at Merrimack, including an 11-3 mark in NCAA Tournament play.
A former standout attack in his four seasons with the Minutemen (2010-13), Smith earned an All-CAA Second Team recognition in 2013 and a CAA All-Tournament team nod in 2012 after helping UMass to the Colonial Athletic Association title and a NCAA Tournament berth. Over his four seasons, he compiled 125 points on 79 goals and 46 assists to go along with 69 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers. He had 17 extra-man goals and nine game winners to his credit with 31 multi-point games in 60 career appearances, including 17 multi-goal games and a dozen hat tricks.
Upon graduating from UMass, Smith played professionally for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse from 2013-15. He earned his undergraduate degree in hospitality and tourism management from the Isenberg School of Management in 2014 and went on to receive his master's from Northeastern in sports leadership in 2016.
Smith's father, Norman Smith '79, was a two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame, UMass Athletics Hall of Fame, Western Massachusetts Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Smith's grandfather, Neville Smith, is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as well.
-- UMassAthletics.com --
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