Tennessee State University and head men’s basketball Coach Nolan Smith have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him leading the Tigers through the 2031 season, Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen announced today. The extension reflects the university’s commitment to sustained excellence and the continued growth of its athletics program.

“My staff and I are incredibly blessed to continue leading this program,” said Smith. “Last season, we laid the foundation and established a clear standard for a winning culture. We’re excited, motivated, and ready to keep building something that makes the Tennessee State University community proud.”

“Nolan Smith has made an immediate and transformative impact on our program, leading with purpose, energy, and a commitment to excellence,” said Allen. “He is a winner whose passion for this university has energized our community and strengthened TSU basketball’s national profile. This well-deserved extension provides stability and momentum for the future, and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.”

In his first season, Smith guided the Tigers to a 23–10 overall record and a 15–5 mark in conference play, culminating in Tennessee State’s first OVC Tournament title in more than three decades and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.

“This is about building something sustainable and positioning Tennessee State for long-term success,” said TSU President Dwayne Tucker. “Coach Smith has elevated our program in just one year, and this extension reflects our confidence in his leadership and our vision for the future of TSU athletics.”

Smith’s achievements earned him OVC Co-Coach of the Year honors, the first in Tennessee State history, along with finalist recognition for the Joe B. Hall, Ben Jobe, and Hugh Durham Awards, which recognize the nation’s top mid-major coaches. His leadership helped produce a high-scoring offense averaging 80.5 points per game, a relentless defensive presence, and several all-conference players, including OVC Player of the Year Aaron Nkrumah.

“As we continue to move the university forward, strategic investments like this strengthen our ability to compete at a high level, attract top talent, and bring greater national visibility to Tennessee State University,” Tucker added. “This is about momentum, opportunity, and ensuring our student-athletes have the resources and leadership to succeed.”

Head Coach Nolan Smith said, “I’m honored to continue leading this program. Our players, staff, and community have worked tirelessly to build a culture of hard work, accountability, and pride. This extension reflects our shared commitment to elevating TSU basketball, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

With this extension, Tennessee State basketball looks ahead to continued success on and off the court. Under Smith’s leadership, the program is positioned to build on its historic momentum, attract top-tier talent, and further elevate TSU’s presence on the national stage.

https://tsutigers.com/news/2026/4/7/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-head-coach-nolan-smith-agrees-to-extension-through-2031.aspx

MCEWEN, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 100 safety citations and more than $3.1 million in penalties following its investigation into a 2025 explosion at an Accurate Energetic Systems munitions plant that killed 16 people.

State officials said Tuesday the citations stem from a six-month investigation into the Oct. 10 blast at the facility near Bucksnort, Tennessee. The agency described the case as the largest investigation in its history and the highest total penalty it has ever assessed.

Of the 100 violations, 59 were classified as willful, 32 as serious, four as repeat-serious, and five as other-than-serious.

The total assessed penalty is $3,133,900.

TOSHA said willful violations indicate “an employer’s intentional disregard for the requirements of the TOSH Act or plain indifference to employee safety and health,” though not necessarily malicious intent.

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The agency hand-delivered the citations to company legal counsel in Nashville on Tuesday and also provided documentation to the victims’ families.

According to TOSHA, penalties are calculated using a standardized formula designed to ensure consistency and do not factor in the number of fatalities.

The agency noted its previous largest penalty was about $380,000 following a 2001 explosion at a military flare manufacturing facility that resulted in one death.

TOSHA emphasized that its role is to determine whether workplace safety violations occurred, not to establish the cause of an accident or assign fault.

Accurate Energetic Systems has 20 calendar days to request an informal conference or formally contest the citations.

AES’s CEO provided FOX 17 News with the following statement, saying that they believe that TOSHA’s findings “do not represent the standard of safety the company strives for.”

“Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) is carefully reviewing the compliance findings issued today by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA). We have 20 days to respond to the findings and will also meet with TOSHA within that time period. We believe that TOSHA’s findings do not represent the standard of safety we strive to achieve every day, nor our commitment to the wellbeing of our team members and their loved ones.

AES continues to investigate and assist government investigators following the tragedy of October 10. Those we lost embodied the very heart of our community. They were our friends and family, and we suffer from their loss. We miss them, love them, and will always cherish our memories of them.

As we closely assess these compliance findings alongside ongoing investigations, including our own, into what caused the explosion, our top priority will remain our employees, their families, and our neighbors. We will continue providing long-term care and resources through the AES Families Support Fund as well as Helping Hands of Hickman County, Centerstone, and through the support of thousands of our friends, neighbors, parishioners and partners.

We are grateful beyond words for the outpouring of support we have received, not just from these invaluable organizations and people, but from around the world.”

Read the full TOSHA statement below.