His senior year, 2010-2011, further solidified his elite status, garnering consensus first-team All-American honors and the prestigious ACC Player of the Year award. That season, Smith led the ACC in scoring with 20.6 points per game, a mark that ranks ninth in Duke program history, and served as a dedicated team captain. His standout collegiate career culminated in being selected 21st overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2011 NBA Draft. Smith continued his professional playing career for two seasons in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 3.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
Smith’s coaching trajectory continued to ascend in 2022 when he joined the Louisville Cardinals as an assistant coach. He then moved to Memphis in September 2024 to serve as an assistant coach. Highlighting his exceptional leadership and strategic vision, Nolan Smith was appointed head coach at Tennessee State University in July 2025, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished career as he prepares to lead his own program.