Mike Smith

Biography

Mike Smith was named the franchise's 14th head coach on January 23, 2008.

Smith spent five years as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-07). The Jaguars ranked among the NFL’s best since Smith took over the defensive reins in 2003. The Jaguars ranked 7th in overall defense (301.0), 5th in offensive points allowed (16.5), 6th in rushing defense (99.8) and allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns (23) from 2003-05.

The Jaguars ranked sixth in total defense (290.9) in 2005 and led the NFL by allowing only four rushing touchdowns. Smith was named to the USA Today All-Joe Team, an award that goes to the players and coaches who have overachieved and are often overlooked. Reggie Hayward (8.5) and Paul Spicer (7.5) helped the club rank third in the NFL with 47 sacks, the third-most in franchise history. The defensive tackle tandem of John Henderson and Marcus Stroud anchored a defense that allowed only three opposing backs to rush for 100-plus yards. Stroud was named a Pro Bowl starter for the third consecutive season.

Linebacker Mike Peterson led the defense in tackles for the third consecutive season with 190 and Rashean Mathis led the club with five interceptions. The Jaguars tied a franchise-record with 19 interceptions.

The Jaguars ranked 11th overall in 2004 and led in red zone efficiency and ranked seventh in scoring defense. Henderson, who earned his first Pro Bowl honor in 2004, led the linemen with 98 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Smith was named the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator on January 21, 2003. A veteran of 25 years of coaching, Smith, 47, has experience in one form or another with almost every position on defense and on special teams.

Prior to joining the Jaguars, he spent the previous four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, helping them to their Super Bowl championship in 2000. The Ravens' 2000 defense set an NFL 16-game record by allowing only 165 points. From 1999 to 2001, Smith was the Ravens' defensive assistant/defensive line coach, and in 2002 he was the linebackers coach, replacing Jack Del Rio, who became defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. In 2002, Smith coached All-Pro Ray Lewis and Pro Bowler Peter Boulware, who had his finest NFL season, and he was instrumental in the development of second-year pro Ed Hartwell, who made a team-leading 196 tackles.

A native of Daytona Beach and a player in the Canadian Football League, Smith had a 12-year stint at Tennessee Tech (1987-98), the last three as the defensive coordinator. He joined the Tennessee Tech staff as defensive line coach, then served as special teams coordinator from 1988 to '95. He tutored the line for nine seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 1996. With Smith as defensive coordinator, the Golden Eagles’ defense finished in the top 10 in the nation in both 1997 and ‘98. In 1998, Smith was promoted to defensive coordinator/assistant head coach.

Before joining Tennessee Tech, Smith was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Morehead (Ky.) State. He served as a part-time assistant coach at San Diego State in 1982, and then spent the next three seasons (1983-85) coaching the Aztecs' linebackers. It was at San Diego State where he worked with Brian Billick, who brought him to Baltimore in 1999.

Smith played linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL in 1982. He played collegiately at East Tennessee (1977-81), where he was named defensive MVP twice at linebacker. As a senior, he led the team with 186 tackles. Smith was a star athlete at Father Lopez High in Daytona Beach and earned All-State honors as a linebacker in 1975. He was born June 13, 1959 in Chicago. He and his wife, Julie, have a daughter, Logan (5/13/00), and live in Jacksonville.

Smith's Coaching Background