Michael Smith
Running Backs Coach
First Year at Arizona
13th Year in Coaching
Smith joined Mike Stoops’ staff in February 2007 to coach running backs after a year in the same capacity at Rice and a long tenure coaching the position at Kansas State.
He brings credentials as a coach in a high-profile program and playing experience to the Arizona equation, plus has familiarity with UA’s leader through past working association with Stoops at K-State. The two worked under Bill Snyder for four seasons from 1995-98.
“Michael’s track record with running backs is phenomenal,” said Stoops. “He did a great job with the rushing game in Rice’s breakout year and also during his time at Kansas State. He’s fully aware of what we’re doing on offense at Arizona and he’s committed to helping this program meet the expectations that we all have for it.”
Smith spent the 2006 season helping Rice to a 7-6 record, advancing to its first bowl game in 45 seasons. He coached a 1,000-yard running back for the fifth consecutive year.
Career Highlights
?* Coached Rice senior Quinton Smith to 1,096 yards in 2006, only the sixth Owls’ RB in history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark.
?* Helped develop six Kansas State running backs into National Football League players ?- Darren Sproles, Rock Cartwright, Joe Hall, Josh Scobey, Frank Murphy and David Allen.
?* Coached Darren Sproles to 4,979-yard career from 2001-04, with 24 games of more than 100 yards and a 6.1 average per carry. He posted a Kansas State-record 1,986 yards on 306 totes in 2003.
?* Coached each of the top career running backs in history at K-State ?- Sproles (4,979), Eric Hickson (2,537) and Mike Lawrence (2,265). Coached four successive KSU 1,000-yard rushers in Josh Scobey (2001) and Sproles (2002-04).
?* Led RBs to school-record 53 rushing touchdowns at Kansas State in 2002, and 254 total in nine years.
?* No. 2 career receiver at Kansas State. Four-year letterman and a career receiving total of 179 receptions for 2,547 yards as a Kansas State player, second-best catches total and third-best yardage total in league history at the time. Nine 100-yard games, including three above 170 to set standards on school single-game list.
?* Led the Big Eight and was seventh nationally with 70 receptions for 816 yards as Kansas State sophomore receiver in 1989. Single-game record with 13 catches for 166 yards vs. Missouri. Had 46 catches for 796 yards as a junior and 55 for 768 yards as a senior.
?* All-Big Eight honors in 1989 and 1991.
?* Third-team All-America honors as a senior receiver at K-State in 1991. Honorable mention All-America in 1989.
?* Played for Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL in 1992, started coaching career as student assistant in 1993 at K-State.
The Smith File
Date of birth: Nov. 21, 1970
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
High School: Jesuit High School, New Orleans
College: Kansas State, 1995
Family: Daughers Kylie and Kenzie
Recruiting Areas: San Diego/Orange Counties
Coaching History
2006 Rice, running backs coach
2005 Kansas State, running backs coach
2004 Kansas State, running backs coach
2003 Kansas State, running backs coach
2002 Kansas State, running backs coach
2001 Kansas State, running backs coach
2000 Kansas State, running backs coach
1999 Kansas State, running backs coach
1998 Kansas State, running backs coach
1997 Kansas State, running backs coach
1995-96 Kansas State, offensive graduate assistant
Smith in Bowl Games
2006 New Orleans Bowl, Rice coach
2003 ’04 Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State coach
2002 Holiday Bowl, Kansas State coach
2001 Insight.com, Kansas State coach
2000 ’01 Cotton Bowl, Kansas State coach
1999 Holiday Bowl, Kansas State coach
1998 Alamo Bowl, Kansas State coach
1997 Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State coach
1996 ’97 Cotton Bowl, Kansas State GA
1995 Holiday Bowl, Kansas State GA
1993 Copper Bowl, Kansas State student asst.
