Smith replaces Dick Leach, who retired this month after guiding USC to four NCAA championships, including an upset win over Georgia two weeks ago in College Station, Texas.

Smith has compiled a 15-year head coaching record of 270-135 (.667) while directing programs at Pepperdine, Fresno State and Long Beach State.

"We are appreciative of Peter's efforts during his five years at Pepperdine, and wish him success as he begins his new assignment at USC," said Pepperdine's Director of Athletics, Dr. John Watson. "Our men's tennis program has a 25-year history of excellence, and I have every reason to expect a number of highly qualified candidates will express interest in the position. The Pepperdine men's tennis program is among the nation's best and we will conduct a thorough search to identify an outstanding replacement."

Smith, 37, is coming off a 25-6 season at Pepperdine, in which he led the 2002 Waves to the quarterfinal round at the NCAA Championships and a No. 5 ranking in the final Omni Hotels poll. He earned his fifth straight West Coast Conference (WCC) "Coach of the Year" honor and was tabbed the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Region VIII "Coach of the Year" for the second time in the last three years (he also won it in 2000).

In five years at Pepperdine (1998-2002), Smith compiled a 118-31 (.792) dual match record and finished in the Top 20 every year. The Waves won the WCC title and advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Championships each season. He coached eight All-Americans during his tenure in Malibu (Robert Lindstedt, Kelly Gullett, John Hui, Anthony Ross, Robert Kendrick, Stefan Sutter, Sebastien Graeff and Al Garland).

Smith spent the previous six seasons (1992-97) as men's tennis head coach at Fresno State, transforming the Bulldogs into a Top 20 program. His dual match record at Fresno State was 102-57 (.642). He led the Bulldogs to its first-ever NCAA Championships appearance in 1994 and coached the program's first-ever All-American (Fredrik Bergh) in 1995. In all, he guided the Bulldogs into the NCAA Championships in his last four seasons and coached four All-Americans (Fredrik Berg, Fredrik Giers, Kelly Gullett and Robert Lindstedt).

Smith enjoyed his greatest success at Fresno State in 1996 when the team won its first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title, posted a 23-5 dual-match record (the best in school history) and earned its third-straight NCAA Championships with a No. 6 national ranking. That season, he was named ITA Region VII and (WAC) "Coach of the Year."

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Long Beach State in 1987 and was a four-year letterwinner for the 49ers. After playing professional tennis for 15 months and competing in prestigious events such as the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, Smith returned to Long Beach State and became the youngest Division I men's tennis head coach at age 23. He served as the 49ers' head coach for four years (1988-91), compiling an overall record of 50-47 (.515). In 1989, Long Beach State posted a 15-11 dual match record and completed the season ranked No. 25 nationally.