Brian Smith

Coach Brian Smith has amassed more than 40 years of hockey experience both as a player and coach.

Brian is a USA Hockey-certified Level 5 coach who grew up playing travel hockey on Long Island. He continued his hockey career in college playing on the Long Island University club team from 1994-1998.

Brian has been with the Nassau County Lions Hockey program since 2015, working with several age groups from 6U through 18U, in both head coach and assistant coaching roles. His philosophy focuses on skill development and practice to game transfer scenarios, with a focus on building hockey sense and habits that will develop a complete player.

“It’s not the system or structure that will allow for success, but the hockey sense and habits,” says Brian. “To succeed at high levels takes a combination of skill and work ethic and these principles are at the core of our philosophy. Our most important job as coaches is to trust and transmit belief in the players, while emphasizing effort and disciple as the building blocks.”