NASHVILLE — Tennessee State University head men's basketball coach Nolan Smith has finalized his staff ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 season.

"When you become a head coach for the first time... the first question is: WHO ARE YOU HIRING??," said Smith. "This is a question I've thought about since the minute I joined Coach K's staff, and he always told us to be prepared. I was prepared — and very fortunate that all of the guys I had in mind for a long time were available at this moment."

Smith got to work early upon his hiring and acquired three well-known professional and collegiate basketball minds to his staff. The trio of assistants consists of former NBA player DerMarr Johnson, veteran coach Vince Taylor, and recruiting guru Dalonte Hill. Johnson previously spent time at West Virginia and Cincinnati, while Taylor spent the last seven seasons at Central Florida and Hill most recently coached at Chicago State. Brandon Lockridge will keep his role as an assistant coach/director of operations. Smith also named music executive and entrepreneur Bilal "Bizzy" Joseph as the program's first Executive Director of Basketball Strategy & Innovation.

"Vince Taylor, Delonte Hill, and DerMarr Johnson are all family — and guys I know are great human beings first, and then great coaches," said Smith. "They are all obsessed with winning. Each of them has played for and coached with hard-nosed, loving coaches, so they understand what it takes. I am also very excited about keeping Brandon Lockridge on staff. Coach Lock is a TSU Tiger to the core, and what he brings to this staff is invaluable to the success of this year's team! He will be wearing many hats for us here — and he wears them well!"

Vince Taylor — Assistant Coach

Taylor brings more than 20 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels, with coaching stops at UCF, Texas Tech, Minnesota, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Wyoming, along with two seasons on staff with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

Most recently, Taylor spent seven years at UCF (2017–24), helping the Knights earn their first at-large NCAA Tournament berth, their first NCAA Tournament win, and a second-round appearance in 2019. His previous coaching career includes stints at Texas Tech, Minnesota, and Louisville, where he was instrumental in top recruiting classes and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.

A standout player at Duke, Taylor was an All-ACC and honorable mention All-America selection in 1982 before being drafted by the New York Knicks. He went on to play professionally for 13 years, primarily in Europe, before transitioning into coaching.
  Dermarr Johnson — Assistant Coach

Johnson brings more than 16 years of professional playing experience, including seven seasons in the NBA, along with key coaching and player development roles at the collegiate level.

A Washington, D.C., native, Johnson most recently spent two seasons on staff at West Virginia (2022–24) after two years at the University of Cincinnati, where he served as the program's director of player development. In that role, he oversaw individual development plans and alumni engagement for the Bearcats.

As a player, Johnson rose to national prominence as one of the top prospects in the country. At Maine Central Institute, he was named Parade National High School Player of the Year in 1999 and earned consensus recognition as a McDonald's, Parade Magazine, and USA Today All-American. He went on to play one season under Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins at Cincinnati (1999–2000), averaging 13.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Johnson was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year and helped lead the Bearcats to a 29-4 record, a No. 1 national ranking for 12 weeks, and the Conference USA regular-season championship on a team that featured national player of the year Kenyon Martin.

Johnson declared for the 2000 NBA Draft and was selected sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks. Over the next seven seasons, he played for the Hawks, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs, appearing in 344 games with 136 starts.
  Dalonte Hill — Assistant Coach

Hill brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience across the Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, and Southland conferences, along with a reputation as a program builder and elite recruiter. He most recently served on staff at Chicago State (2024–25) and Stephen F. Austin and previously held assistant coaching roles at Maryland, Kansas State, and Charlotte.

Widely regarded as one of the nation's top recruiters, Hill helped deliver back-to-back top-25 recruiting classes at Maryland (2012–13) while serving under Mark Turgeon. At Kansas State (2006–11), he played a central role in the program's rise to national prominence under Bob Huggins and Frank Martin. Promoted to associate head coach, Hill was instrumental in assembling a top-rated 2006 signing class that included Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, both McDonald's All-Americans. In total, Hill helped bring four McDonald's All-Americans to Kansas State while guiding the Wildcats to four 20-win seasons in five years.
  Brandon Lockridge — Assistant Coach / Director of Operations

Lockridge enters his third season as assistant coach/director of basketball operations. He is currently in his second stint with the Tigers. During his playing career, Lockridge showcased his skills as a team co-captain during his senior season and gained recognition as one of the top 3-point shooters in the OVC (Ohio Valley Conference). He concluded his collegiate journey ranked 10th in the TSU record books with 116 made 3-point field goals. Notably, he had a standout performance as a junior, scoring 18 points in 24 minutes and sinking 6-of-9 shots from downtown in a game against Ohio State. His junior season also saw him finish seventh in the OVC in 3-point shooting.

  Bilal "Bizzy" Joseph — Director of Basketball Strategy & Innovation

In his role as Executive Director of Basketball Strategy & Innovation, Joseph will lead a wide range of strategic efforts including corporate partnerships, player brand development, strategic marketing, and the elevation of the program's off-court infrastructure. His appointment signals a new era for TSU Basketball, one rooted in cultural relevance, business innovation, and elite athlete development.

Joseph's portfolio of accomplishments includes negotiating groundbreaking partnerships with global brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand, McDonald's, PlayStation, Fortnite, and Kellogg's. His deal-making prowess has produced unprecedented results like the 3.8 million entries for the Travis Scott "Reverse Mocha" Air Jordan 1 Low and McDonald's highest monthly sales in a decade through the launch of the Travis Scott Meal. His work on Scott's "Astronomical" virtual concert in Fortnite garnered over 202 million views globally, setting a new standard for digital engagement.

While deeply rooted in entertainment, Joseph has long envisioned making a direct impact in the sports world. His appointment is part of Coach Smith's broader strategy to reimagine what a modern collegiate basketball program can look like — driven by purpose, powered by innovation, and centered on student-athlete empowerment.