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Rod Smith (American football coach)

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For other people named Rod Smith, see Rod Smith (disambiguation).

Rod Smith
Current position
TitleOffensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
TeamMarshall
ConferenceSun Belt
Biographical details
Born (1973-02-22) February 22, 1973 (age 51)
Franklin, West Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1993–1996Glenville State
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997Franklin HS (WV) (OC)
1998–1999Urbana (OC)
2000West Virginia Tech (OC)
2001Clemson (GA)
2001West Virginia (GA)
2001–2004South Florida (PGC/QB)
2005–2006South Florida (OC/QB)
2007West Virginia (QB)
2008–2010Michigan (QB)
2011Indiana (co-OC/QB)
2012–2017Arizona (co-OC/QB)
2018–2020Illinois (OC/QB)
2020Illinois (interim HC)
2021Virginia (OA)
2022–2024Jacksonville State (OC/QB)
2024Jacksonville State (interim HC)
2025–presentMarshall (OC/QB)
Head coaching record
Overall0–2
Bowls0–1

Rod Smith (born February 22, 1973) is an American football coach and former player who is currently the interim head coach and offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State University. Prior to that, he was an offensive analyst at the University of Virginia.[1] Smith has also served as the interim head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.

Playing career

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Smith played college football as a quarterback at Glenville State College from 1993 to 1996, where he played for head coach Rich Rodriguez.[2]

Coaching career

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After graduating from Glenville State in 1997, Smith was hired to be the offensive coordinator on his father's coaching staff at Franklin High School in West Virginia.[3] He spent time as the offensive coordinator at both Urbana University in Ohio and West Virginia Tech before reuniting with Rodriguez at both Clemson and West Virginia as a graduate assistant. He was hired by Jim Leavitt to be the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at South Florida and was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2005 season. Smith resigned from South Florida after the 2006 season to reunite with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia as the team's quarterbacks coach.[4][5]

Michigan

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Smith was named the quarterbacks coach at Michigan in 2008 after Rich Rodriguez was named the head coach.[6]

Indiana

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After Rodriguez was fired from Michigan in 2010, Smith spent the 2011 season on Kevin Wilson's staff at Indiana as a co-offensive coordinator and the quarterbacks coach.[7]

Arizona

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After Rodriguez was hired to be the head coach Arizona in 2012, Smith joined Rodriguez's staff as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.[8] Smith was a nominee for the Broyles Award given annually to the nation's top assistant coach, after the 2017 season at Arizona.

Illinois

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After Rodriguez was fired from Arizona in 2018, Smith departed the Arizona coaching staff to join Lovie Smith's coaching staff at Illinois.[9] He was named the interim head coach after Smith was terminated on December 13, 2020.[10]

Virginia

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Smith was hired by Virginia as an offensive analyst prior to the 2021 season,[11] where he works with offensive coordinator Robert Anae. As of October 29, 2021, the Cavaliers lead the nation in passing offense. He left after the 2021 season.

Penn State

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Smith was hired as an offensive analyst at Penn State in 2022.[12]

Jacksonville State

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Smith was named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State on June 12, 2022.[13] Smith was named interim head coach for the 2024 Cure Bowl after Rich Rodriguez resigned to take another coaching position.[14]

Marshall

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On December 21, 2024, it was reported Smith was named the offensive coordinator at Marshall under first-year head coach Tony Gibson.[15]

Personal life

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Smith and his wife Charlene have two children, Alex and Sasha.[16][17] Alex is currently a defensive back at West Liberty University's football team.[18]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (2020)
2020 Illinois 0–1‡ 0–1 7th (West)
Illinois: 0–1 0–1 ‡ Served as interim HC
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (Conference USA) (2024)
2024 Jacksonville State 0–1‡ L Cure
Jacksonville State: 0–1 ‡ Served as interim HC
Total: 0–2

References

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  1. ^ "Hoos Thankful for Smith's Experienced Eye". September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rod Smith Bio". Fansided. January 13, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Ryan, Shannon (September 28, 2018). "How Rod Smith's up-tempo system could jolt the Illinois offense — and fans — back to life". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Leavitt names Greg Gregory to replace Rod Smith as offensive coordinator". USF Athletics. January 22, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Hertzel, Bob (August 18, 2007). "Rod Smith returns to his roots". Times West Virginian. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  6. ^ "Michigan Football: Coach's Corner — Rod Smith — (QB) Coach at Michigan". Fansided. January 9, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Rothstein, Michael. "Smith reflects on his time in Ann Arbor, Denard Robinson and his role at Indiana". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Dopirak, Dustin. "IU co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith leaves for Arizona". Hoosier Sports Report. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Kelapire, Ryan (January 19, 2018). "Rod Smith named Illinois offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "Illinois Makes Football Coaching Change". University of Illinois Athletics. December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Report: Rod Smith added to Virginia football staff as analyst".
  12. ^ "Penn State football staff adds longtime offensive coordinator as analyst". Penn Live. March 18, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Rodriguez Hires Experienced Offensive Coordinator in Rod Smith". Jacksonville State University Athletics. June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  14. ^ Nicole, Ashlee; Daniel, Matt (December 17, 2024). "Jax State, Ohio meet in Cure Bowl with interim head coaches". WBRC. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Barnett, Zach (December 21, 2024). "Sources: Marshall hiring veteran offensive coordinator". FootballScoop. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Asmussen, Bob (February 23, 2020). "Three years in, Rod Smith happy with state of Illini, life in C-U". The News-Gazette. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Asmussen, Bob (November 30, 2018). "Rod Smith's long-awaited homecoming". The News-Gazette. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Alex Withers - Football - West Liberty University Athletics". West Liberty University Athletics. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
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