Bio

Mid Michigan College Director of Athletics Danny Smith has announced the hiring of Tanner Smith as the new head women’s basketball coach. Smith replaces Lance Maney, who stepped down after three seasons to become an assistant men’s basketball coach at Northwood University.

The 2025-26 season will be his first as a collegiate head coach.  

A familiar face to the program, Smith steps into the head coaching role after three seasons as the lead assistant coach under Maney. The Lakers have posted an 89-14 record since the 2022-23 season, with three NJCAA National Tournament appearances, three Regional championships, three MCCAA State championships, and three MCCAA Northern Conference championships.

Most recently, Smith was a part of a coaching staff that led Mid to a seventh place finish at the NJCAA D2 National Tournament. 

Outside of Mid, Smith is also the Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach at Sanford Meridian Early College High School. He has led the Mustangs to three MHSAA District titles and one regional title during his time, compiling a 92-41 overall record with four straight 20+ win seasons, including a school record 24 victories in 2024-25. Meridian also has an active 59 game conference winning streak, and have won four conference titles in that span. 

Smith also serves in the AAU ranks, as he has led the REAL Basketball 17u travel team for the past five years.  

He is also a certified college baseball and softball umpire and has umpired at all levels of collegiate athletics, including NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA. 

Smith resides in Midland with his wife Jordan.