Memphis men's basketball coach Tubby Smith announced Tuesday that longtime assistant coach Butch Pierre is joining his staff this season as the program's new director of player personnel.

Pierre spent last year as an assistant coach at North Carolina State, and brings considerable experience and extensive recruiting ties to the Tigers' operation. He is replacing Keelon Lawson, who vacated the position when his sons, Dedric and K.J. Lawson, elected to transfer to Kansas this offseason.

Pierre, 54, was a four-year starter at point guard for Mississippi State and has been an assistant coach at various Division-I schools since the 1986-87 season, with notable stints at LSU (1997-2008) and Oklahoma State (2008-2016).

"He is someone that I have known of for many years, having coached against him at almost every one of his stops," Smith said in a statement. "He has a deep knowledge of how major basketball programs are run, and will be able to add a lot to our program. He comes in with great credentials and integrity, and I am glad to welcome him and his wife Clemmie to the city.”

At LSU, Pierre helped recruit the nucleus of the Tigers' 2006 Final Four team and served as the program's interim head coach for 10 games in 2008. During his time at Oklahoma State, Pierre is credited with luring five-star recruits Marcus Smart and LeBryan Nash to Stillwater, Okla.

His role will be different in Memphis since NCAA rules do not allow non-assistant coaches to participate in on-court coaching and off-campus recruiting. But Pierre's knowledge of the national recruiting landscape, as well as his experience in advanced scouting and player mentoring, should provide a boost to Smith's current staff.

“I’m excited to be here,” Pierre said in a statement. “I know about the program’s rich tradition, and what the people around the city and the country think of the program. The program has always been special to the Memphis fans, and that electricity is why we can do something special at this university. My relationship with Coach Smith, and knowing the type of coach and person that he is, is what drew me to the school.”

Pierre earned $410,000 at North Carolina State this past season, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. He had one year left on his contract when former Coach Mark Gottfried was fired in March and his buyout calls for North Carolina State to pay Pierre the difference in his salary at Memphis.

Keelon Lawson earned a base salary of $120,000 as the Tigers' director of player personnel last season.

Pierre, a Darrow, La., native, is already in Memphis and appeared alongside Smith and his staff during a Rebounders' event at Smith's home last month.

“After just the first few days in the city, and spending time with Coach Smith and the players, I am excited to see what we can do this season,” Pierre said. “Not only does Coach Smith develop players for the next level on the basketball court, he makes them men and prepares them for life in the real world. He knows how to win, and does everything the right way, on and off of the court.”