Mike Smith (football coach)
Encyclopedia
Mike Smith, known colloquially as Smitty, (born June 13, 1959 in Chicago
, Illinois
) is the current head coach
for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons
. He previously served as the defensive coordinator
for the Jacksonville Jaguars
since the 2003 season
. In his first season as Falcons head coach, Smith was recipient of the NFL Coach of the Year Award
by the Associated Press
.
, Smith played linebacker
at Father Lopez Catholic High School
, earning All-State honors. In college, he played for East Tennessee State University
between 1977 and 1981, being named defensive MVP twice. Professionally, Smith briefly played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the Canadian Football League
for the 1982 season
before retiring.
(1982–1985), Morehead State (1986), and Tennessee Tech (1987–1998). He was hired as defensive assistant/defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens
in 1999 assisting Rex Ryan
with the unit for three seasons. In 2002, Smith was promoted to coach the Ravens linebackers and tutored such players as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware
, Jamie Sharper
, and Adalius Thomas
. Smith was a part of the 2000 Ravens that captured Super Bowl XXXV
. On January 21, 2003, Mike Smith was named defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for the incoming head coach Jack Del Rio
.
In 2008, the Atlanta Falcons
named him their Head Coach. In his first season
with the team, Smith named rookie Matt Ryan
the starting quarterback for the season opener against the Detroit Lions
. In his debut as Atlanta head coach, the Falcons beat the Lions 34–21. Atlanta’s 216 yards of total offense in the first quarter is also the highest total in over two decades. The previous high for the Falcons came on October 13, 1991 with 172 yards against San Francisco. His first loss was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Smith won his first official challenge after challenging the spot of the ball on a Roddy White
reception in the third quarter vs Tampa Bay. After the review the officials determined White had reached the first down marker, which kept the Atlanta drive alive. Smith was helped by players like Michael Turner, Roddy White
, Michael Jenkins and John Abraham to carry the Falcons to their first playoff berth since 2004. The Falcons lost to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals
in the wild-card round of the 2008 NFL playoffs. He was named the 2008 AP Coach of the year and NFL Coach of the Year beating out Miami Dolphins
head coach Tony Sparano
in the voting.
In his second season, Smith and the Falcons overcame a tough schedule and several key injuries to QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner to end up with a 9-7 finish and second place in the NFC South. While the Falcons failed to reach the playoffs, this marked the first time the team had ever managed to achieve back-to-back winning seasons in their history. In the 2010 season, Smith led the Falcons to a NFC-best season record of 13-3, earning the team's second NFC South title and fourth divisional championship overall. However, the Falcons were thrashed at home to the eventual Super Bowl XLV
champions, the Green Bay Packers
, 48-21 losing in the NFC Divisional Round. Under Smith's leadership, the Falcons have achieved three consecutive winning seasons, a new franchise record.
Assistant coaches under Mike Smith who became NFL head coaches:
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is the current head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He previously served as the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
since the 2003 season
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
. In his first season as Falcons head coach, Smith was recipient of the NFL Coach of the Year Award
NFL Coach of the Year Award
The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by the...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Early years
Raised in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, Smith played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
at Father Lopez Catholic High School
Father Lopez Catholic High School
Father Lopez Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando. 265 students are enrolled.- History :...
, earning All-State honors. In college, he played for East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
between 1977 and 1981, being named defensive MVP twice. Professionally, Smith briefly played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
for the 1982 season
1982 CFL season
The 1982 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1982:After the 1981 season the Montreal Alouettes folded...
before retiring.
Coaching career
Smith decided to take up coaching after his playing days were over, and served at several Division I colleges before moving onto the NFL: San Diego StateSan Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
(1982–1985), Morehead State (1986), and Tennessee Tech (1987–1998). He was hired as defensive assistant/defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in 1999 assisting Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
with the unit for three seasons. In 2002, Smith was promoted to coach the Ravens linebackers and tutored such players as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware
Peter Boulware
Peter Nicholas Boulware , is a former American football linebacker who played his whole NFL career for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 9. His younger brother, Michael Boulware, a strong safety is currently a free agent.-Early...
, Jamie Sharper
Jamie Sharper
Harry James Sharper, Jr. is a former American football player who played in the NFL from 1997 through 2005. He played college football at the University of Virginia. He is the older brother of safety Darren Sharper.-Professional career:The Baltimore Ravens selected Sharper with the 34th overall...
, and Adalius Thomas
Adalius Thomas
Adalius Donquail Thomas is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.-Early years:...
. Smith was a part of the 2000 Ravens that captured Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
. On January 21, 2003, Mike Smith was named defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for the incoming head coach Jack Del Rio
Jack Del Rio
Jack Del Rio is an American football coach and former player. Del Rio played both football and baseball for the University of Southern California Trojans, and then spent eleven years playing linebacker in the National Football League . He retired from playing in 1996 and went into coaching,...
.
In 2008, the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
named him their Head Coach. In his first season
2008 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League. Overcoming a disappointing 4-12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding...
with the team, Smith named rookie Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan (American football)
Matthew Thomas "Matt" Ryan , nicknamed "Matty Ice," is the starting American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round as the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...
the starting quarterback for the season opener against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. In his debut as Atlanta head coach, the Falcons beat the Lions 34–21. Atlanta’s 216 yards of total offense in the first quarter is also the highest total in over two decades. The previous high for the Falcons came on October 13, 1991 with 172 yards against San Francisco. His first loss was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Smith won his first official challenge after challenging the spot of the ball on a Roddy White
Roddy White
Sharod Lamor White is an American football wide receiver playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League...
reception in the third quarter vs Tampa Bay. After the review the officials determined White had reached the first down marker, which kept the Atlanta drive alive. Smith was helped by players like Michael Turner, Roddy White
Roddy White
Sharod Lamor White is an American football wide receiver playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League...
, Michael Jenkins and John Abraham to carry the Falcons to their first playoff berth since 2004. The Falcons lost to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals
2008 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2008 Arizona Cardinals season was the 89th season for the team in the National Football League and their 21st season in Arizona. The season marked the Cardinals' first-ever Super Bowl appearance, coming as a result of their victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship.The...
in the wild-card round of the 2008 NFL playoffs. He was named the 2008 AP Coach of the year and NFL Coach of the Year beating out Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach Tony Sparano
Tony Sparano
Anthony "Tony" Sparano III is an American Football head coach of the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night...
in the voting.
In his second season, Smith and the Falcons overcame a tough schedule and several key injuries to QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner to end up with a 9-7 finish and second place in the NFC South. While the Falcons failed to reach the playoffs, this marked the first time the team had ever managed to achieve back-to-back winning seasons in their history. In the 2010 season, Smith led the Falcons to a NFC-best season record of 13-3, earning the team's second NFC South title and fourth divisional championship overall. However, the Falcons were thrashed at home to the eventual Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
champions, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, 48-21 losing in the NFC Divisional Round. Under Smith's leadership, the Falcons have achieved three consecutive winning seasons, a new franchise record.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | ATL 2008 Atlanta Falcons season The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League. Overcoming a disappointing 4-12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding... |
2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... in NFC Wild-Card Game. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL 2009 Atlanta Falcons season The 2009 Atlanta Falcons season was the 44th season for the team in the National Football League. The team looked to match or improve upon their 11–5 record from 2008 and return to the playoffs, however the Falcons were eliminated from contention in Week 15... |
2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in NFC South | - | - | - | - | ||
| ATL 2010 Atlanta Falcons season The 2010 Atlanta Falcons season was the 45th season for the team in the National Football League. In 2009, the team posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history, with a 9–7 record, but did not make the playoffs... |
2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
13 | 3 | 0 | .812 | 1st in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... in NFC Divisional Game. |
||
| ATL 2011 Atlanta Falcons season The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season will be the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith. After a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Falcons will attempt to defend its NFC South division... |
2011 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | NFC South | - | - | - | - | ||
| Total | 40 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | ||||||
Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Mike Smith has served:- Brian BillickBrian BillickBrian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
, Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
(1999–2002) - Jack Del RioJack Del RioJack Del Rio is an American football coach and former player. Del Rio played both football and baseball for the University of Southern California Trojans, and then spent eleven years playing linebacker in the National Football League . He retired from playing in 1996 and went into coaching,...
, Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2003–2007)
Assistant coaches under Mike Smith who became NFL head coaches:
- None
Personal
Smith and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Logan. He is the brother-in-law of Brian BillickBrian Billick
Brian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
.