PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF head men's basketball coach Tanner Smith has announced the addition of Xavier Pina to the Argonauts' staff as Director of Player Personnel.

In his role, Pina will assist with player personnel, recruiting, player development, and the day-to-day operations of the UWF men's basketball program.

"Xavier brings extensive knowledge of both the ASUN Conference and high-major college basketball," said Coach Smith. "His relentless work ethic, strong relationship-building skills, and passion for developing student-athletes will make an immediate impact on our program."

Pina joins the Argonauts after spending the 2025–26 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas. During his year with the Razorbacks, Pina helped the program capture an SEC championship and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament while working under legendary head coach John Calipari. He also played a key role in the development of 2026 NBA Draft selections Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile.

While at Arkansas, Pina pursued a master's degree in adult and lifelong learning and assisted the coaching staff in various aspects of the program.

Before beginning his coaching career, Pina played two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University. He also represented the Eagles as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Pina began his collegiate playing career at Navarro College, where he finished third in program history for 3-pointers made in a single season. His performance earned him an invitation to the Top 100 JUCO All-American Camp in Atlanta. He also participated in the JA48 event in Las Vegas, which featured 48 of the top junior college players in the country.

A native of Woodbury, New Jersey, Pina graduated from Florida Gulf Coast in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in integrated studies.

For more information on the UWF men's basketball program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfmbb (Instagram) and @UWFMensBBall (X).