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Reggie Geary has moved on from another unusual coaching stint at his alma mater by becoming an assistant coach at Southern Methodist.

Geary, a former Arizona basketball standout in the mid-1990s, twice has been dropped from UA basketball staffs: first when he was demoted to administrative aide in 2005 — a month after being hired as an assistant coach — and second after Russ Pennell's interim 2008-09 staff was not retained.

Geary left a head coaching position with the NBA Development League's Anaheim Arsenal last summer to work on Lute Olson's UA staff — only to see Olson retire suddenly in October 2008. Pennell took over on an interim basis until Sean Miller was hired in April.

Before the 2005-06 season, Geary was moved off Olson's staff to make room for Miles Simon. Geary served as an administrative aide that season before leaving for the D-League.

If it appeared difficult or frustrating, Geary said it wasn't.

"It seems that way," Geary said. "I know I feel very blessed and very fortunate to not only play here but to come back and work in a couple of different capacities. Every second I've been here has been a valuable lesson and a valuable experience."

Geary had expressed interest in being retained on Miller's staff, even securing a commitment for next season from former junior college forward Tremayne Johnson, who later signed with Eastern Washington. But Geary said he began seeking a job immediately after last season ended, while Pennell (head coach at Grand Canyon) and associate head coach Mike Dunlap (Oregon assistant) also moved on.

Geary said he reached out to contacts in the NBA and the D-League, where he coached Anaheim for most of the 2006-07 season and all of the 2007-08 campaign, but he ultimately decided to remain in college basketball somewhere, if not at the UA.

"Everything has a natural progression, and it took him a while to see what he wanted to do," Geary said of Miller. "As soon as the season was over, knowing there was no guarantee I'd have a job, I went out there and established some contacts. I treated it as if I did not have a job."

Geary said he had interviewed with SMU head coach Matt Doherty in 2005 before coming to the UA, and Geary kept in touch with through the recruiting trail over the past few years. When the Mustangs had openings again this summer, Geary interviewed again.

Doherty indicated in an SMU release that he was glad Geary joined him this time.

"Reggie Geary has played for great coaches in Lute Olson at Arizona, Gary McKnight at Mater Dei High School, and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs," Doherty said. "He has a wealth of experiences as a player and coach that will greatly benefit our program."

Geary will have plenty of work to do with Doherty, who is 33-58 after three years at SMU. The Mustangs were 9-21 last season, though Geary said they have a lot of potential this season.

"I wouldn't be going if I didn't think I could be helpful," Geary said. "I had an opportunity to review tape and get a feel for where they're at. I feel it's very promising. There's three starters coming back. This is a young, young team with guys who were trying to figure it out last season."