ELKHART – The Elkhart Central boys basketball program has a new man in charge.

Terry Smith, who boasts a wealth of coaching experience, was tabbed Monday to take over the Blue Blazers. Smith replaces Randy DeShone, who resigned in May to become an assistant principal at South Bend St. Joseph’s High School.

Smith has spent the last two years as both a high school and AAU coach in Florida. His experience also includes six years as the coach at Lake Superior State, seven seasons at Grand Valley State and three years at Alma College.

Smith, a 1984 Michigan State graduate, was also an assistant coach for the Michigan State women’s basketball team in 2010-11.  He also served as coach of the Holland (Michigan) Blast, who played in the International Basketball League.

Smith has a daughter who is a senior at Notre Dame and a son who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Smith comes from a basketball family as his father was a coach for 39 years and his brother coaches in Ohio. His nephew Ryne Smith played basketball at Purdue and his niece Nikki Smith played basketball at Indiana.

DeShone spent two seasons at Central, guiding the Blue Blazers to a 16-8 mark during the 2015-16 season. Central lost to Warsaw in the sectional championship game of the Elkhart Sectional and posted its best record in 13 years. DeShone, who guided Jimtown to a state championship in 2004, was 5-17 in his first season at Central.

Smith becomes the fourth coach in the last nine years for the Blue Blazers.