University of Dubuque

Smith was promoted to Head Coach in the spring of 2020 after spending three seasons as an assistant. A native of Waukee, Iowa, Smith is a 2007 graduate of University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he also began his coaching career as the Assistant Girl’s Basketball Coach at Janesville High School for two seasons. Smith’s coaching philosophy is building positive relationships and a team first culture which is centered around hard-work, communication, and trust. 

Since taking over the Spartans women's basketball program, Smith has led the Spartans to the American Rivers Conference tournament every year as the head coach of the Spartans. The 2023-2024 season was the best season under Coach Smith with a 16-11 overall record and earning the four seed in the conference tournament, while picking up his first conference tournament victory of his career at home against Simpson College. 

Smith has 12 years of coaching experience at the high school and youth levels. Prior to UD, Smith was the Head Girl’s Basketball Coach at Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa from 2012-2017. During his time at Hempstead, Smith guided Hempstead to three city titles, a Jimmy V. Classic Tournament Championship in 2013, and posted the second most wins in a season in school history twice. He left Hempstead with the second best winning percentage in school history. 

At the high school level, Smith coached numerous players who went on to received college scholarships, one all-state selection, and numerous all-conference performers. 

Smith was honored in 2018 for his heroic efforts in stopping a charter bus when the driver had a medical issue and passed out while driving. Smith pulled the driver out of the seat and was able to stop the bus after hitting the guardrail. Justin was recognized as Iowa’s 2018 “citizen hero” during halftime of the Hy-Vee Heroes Game, Nov. 23, 2018 when the Iowa Hawkeyes played the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Smith and his wife, Casey and son, reside in Dubuque. 

University of Dubuque Coaching Record