Joe Smith, pending school board approval, will be the new head boys basketball coach at Seaman High School in Topeka, replacing the legendary Craig Cox who retired this season. 

Smith has been the head coach of the Jefferson West Boys the past 5 seasons with the Tigers finishing 15-10 overall and 6-4 in the Big East League this year, falling to Perry-Lecompton in the 3A Sub-State Semifinals. 

Smith replaces Craig Cox, who had been the Seaman Head Boys basketball coach since 2011. Cox posted a 183-150 record at Seaman and led the Vikings to a 5A State Championship in 2022. This year Seaman placed 3rd at the 5A State tournament, finishing with a 23-5 record.

Cox also won 2 state titles with Shawnee Heigths in 2000 & 2002. 

Smith, who works at Seaman's alternative school, has many Topeka connections as a coach as he was on the Washburn staff for 2 years and also was a coach at Highland Park and Seaman Middle School before take the head coaching position at Jefferson West 5 seasons ago.