University of West Florida Athletics

Xavier Pina joined Tanner Smith’s staff at the University of West Florida as Director of Player Personnel in July 2026.

In his role, Pina assists 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 UWF head coach Tanner Smith. "His relentless work ethic, strong relationship-building skills, and passion for developing student-athletes will make an immediate impact on our program."

Pina arrived in Pensacola after spending the 2025–26 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas under legendary head coach John Calipari. During his season with the Razorbacks, Pina helped Arkansas capture an SEC championship and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

While at Arkansas, Pina assisted the coaching staff in various areas of the program and contributed to the development of 2026 NBA Draft selections Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile. He also pursued a master’s degree in adult and lifelong learning.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Pina played two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University and 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.