Smith enters his second season with Indianapolis as the team's running backs coach. He has 24 years of coaching experience, including the last two seasons in the NFL with the Colts (2023) and New York Giants (2022).
In 2023, Indianapolis finished in the top 10 in the NFL in points per game (23.3 – tied-10th) and rushing yards per game (121.1 – 10th). Smith guided Zack Moss to a career year as he led the team in rushing with 183 carries for 794 yards and added five touchdowns. Moss also compiled 27 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor totaled 169 carries for 741 yards and seven touchdowns and also caught 19 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown.
In 2022, Smith worked with Saquon Barkley, who earned his second career Pro Bowl selection after he tallied 295 carries for a single-season career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. Barkley also added 57 receptions for 338 yards. Gary Brightwell registered a single-season career-high 141 yards on 31 carries with one touchdown.
Prior to New York, Smith spent three seasons (2019-21) as the running backs coach at Texas Tech. He guided running back SaRodorick Thompson Jr., to team highs in rushing yards in three consecutive seasons. In 2021, Smith led the Red Raiders to 32 rushing touchdowns, which were the most in the Big 12. During the 2019 season, Thompson Jr. recorded 160 carries for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns and became only the eighth Red Raider freshman to lead the team in rushing.
Smith spent the 2018 season at Utah State as their running backs coach and mentored Darwin Thompson, who was named a Second Team All-Mountain West selection after he compiled 1,044 yards on 153 carries with 14 touchdowns as well as 23 receptions for 351 yards and two touchdowns. Smith was a part of a staff that helped the Aggies tie their single season win record (11).
Prior to his arrival at Utah State, Smith spent five seasons at power-five conference schools with stints at North Carolina (2017), Purdue (2016) and Syracuse (2013-15). In 2015, the Orange recorded 1,958 rushing yards while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
He worked at New Mexico in 2012 following a two-year stop at Illinois (2010-11). In 2010, Smith worked with Second Team All-America selection Mikel LeShoure, who set the Illini single-season records in rushing yards (1,697), touchdowns (20) and total points (122).
Smith coached the running backs at UNLV for one season (2009) after serving in the same capacity with New Mexico in his first stint with the team (2008).
He worked at Miami of Ohio for three seasons (2005-07) as the assistant head coach/running backs coach after coaching at Northern Illinois for four seasons (2001-04) as their running backs/assistant special teams coach. While at Northern Illinois, Smith coached Michael Turner to All-America honors (2002, 2003) and helped him top the Mid-American Conference in rushing yards twice (2002, 2003).
Smith got his start in coaching at Indiana State as their offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 1999-2000.
During his collegiate coaching career, he tutored four All-America honorees and had 10 running backs eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Smith played professionally in France in 1993 and also spent one season with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (1992).
He was a four-year letterwinner at quarterback for Southwest Missouri State. Smith earned the 1990 Division I-AA Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-America selection. He was named the Gateway Conference Player of the Decade from 1985 to 1995.
Smith earned his bachelor's degree in organizational communication from Southwest Missouri State in 2002.
He and his wife, Lori, have two sons, Ryan and Donovan, and a daughter, Ashley. Ryan played wide receiver at Duke from 2013-16 and Donovan currently plays quarterback for the University of Houston.
1999-2000 | Indiana State | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2001-2004 | Northern Illinois | Running Backs/Assistant Special Teams
2005-2007 | Miami (Ohio) | Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs
2008 | New Mexico | Running Backs
2009 | UNLV | Running Backs
2010-2011 | Illinois | Running Backs
2012 | New Mexico | Running Backs
2013-2015 | Syracuse | Running Backs
2016 | Purdue | Running Backs
2017 | North Carolina | Running Backs
2018 | Utah State | Running Backs
2019-2021 | Texas Tech | Running Backs
2022 | New York Giants | Running Backs
2023-2024 | Indianapolis Colts | Running Backs
