Chris Kreider is in his second season as an assistant coach at SMU (2023-24) and his fifth season working with Head Coach Rob Lanier, including the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for Lanier at Georgia State.
Following his first season on the Hilltop, which included a runner-up finish at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Kreider helped bring in a transfer class ranked as high as No. 42 nationally and No. 2 in The American. In August of 2023, the Mustangs went on a 10-day trip to Spain, going 3-0 with games in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.
Kreider was selected to the Top Connect Basketball Symposium in 2022 and 2023. The networking and leadership event that includes athletics directors and some of the top assistant coaches in the country. He was also invited to the 2023 Jay Bilas Coaches Leadership Program, which is intended to help experienced Division I assistant coaches continue to refine philosophy both on and off the court.
In his three seasons at Georgia State, the Panthers went 53-30, winning the Sun Belt Tournament in 2022 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers also made the Sun Belt Tournament final in 2021. Additionally, he led GSU to a victory over Georgia Tech, the program’s first win over an ACC opponent. The Panthers also claimed the 2019-20 2K Empire Classic Riverside Regional.
He was previously at Rice from 2017-19, where he helped recruit classes ranked fourth (2018) and third (2019) in C-USA according to 247 Sports. Guard Chris Mullins was named to the 2018-19 C-USA All-Freshman Team by both the league’s head coaches and media. Additionally, eight Owls were named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of his two seasons on staff. Guard Connor Cashaw capped his junior campaign in 2017-18 earning a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team.
Prior to his tenure at Rice, Kreider spent two seasons (2015-17) at Virginia Military Institute, serving as the recruiting coordinator and post coach. Kreider’s career also includes four seasons at George Mason (2011-15), where he helped the Patriots to a pair of 20-plus win seasons and a run to the CBI championship series in 2012 before the program transitioned to the Atlantic 10 in 2012-13. The 2011 incoming class was ranked the No. 10 mid-major class by ESPN.com before the Patriots inked one of the top recruiting classes in the A-10 in 2014.
Kreider also held the role of recruiting coordinator during his two-year stay at Georgia Southern from 2009-11. Prior to his stop in Statesboro, Kreider served at Georgia Tech from 2007-09. While with the Yellow Jackets, he held positions as an administrative assistant and volunteer assistant coach.
From 2006-07, Kreider was an assistant coach at USC Aiken after working three years at St. Francis High School where he held head coaching positions for the men and women’s basketball teams (2003-04 assistant; 2004-05 women’s coach; 2005-06 men’s coach). He got his start in coaching as an assistant coach at the University of Great Falls in 2002-03.
A collegiate letterwinner, Kreider started as a small forward at three colleges, playing one year at Mansfield University before transferring to Grove City College (Pa.). In his junior season, Kreider led the Wolverines in scoring (12.3 ppg) and steals (52). He finished his playing and academic career at Lebanon Valley College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish in 2003.
Kreider is married to the former Heather Akers of Atlanta, Ga. The couple has an 8-year-old daughter, Livia.
“Simply put, he is one of the best in the business. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some very good coaches and Chris is one of the absolute best. He checks every box. He’s a great recruiter, an excellent teacher and he is committed to the development of young people. He is a true professional and deserves to be a head coach someday.” - Head Coach Rob Lanier
