Mike Smith (American football coach)

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

Mike Smith

Current position
Team	Atlanta Falcons
Personal information
Date of birth	(1959-06-13) June 13, 1959
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois
Career information
Position(s)	Head coach
College	East Tennessee State University
Career highlights
Awards	2008 AP NFL Coach of the Year
Head coaching record
Regular season	56–24 (.700)
Postseason	1–4 (.200)
Career record	57–28 (.671)
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1982 1983-1985 1986 1987 1988-1995 1996-1998 1999-2001 2002 2003-2007 2008-present	San Diego State (GA) San Diego State (LB) Morehead State (DL) Tennessee Tech (DL) Tennessee Tech (ST) Tennessee Tech (DC) Baltimore Ravens (DA/DL) Baltimore Ravens (LB) Jacksonville Jaguars (DC) Atlanta Falcons (HC)

Mike Smith, known colloquially as Smitty, or Kenneth (rarely used name) (born June 13, 1959) is the current head coach for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, a position he has held since 2008. He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 until his hiring in Atlanta. In his first season as Falcons head coach, Smith was recipient of the NFL Coach of the Year Award by the Associated Press.

Biography

Early years

Raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, Smith played linebacker at Father Lopez Catholic High School, earning All-State honors. He played collegiately for East Tennessee State University between 1977 and 1981, and was chosen as defensive MVP twice. He briefly played professionally for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, for the 1982 season, before retiring as a player.

Coaching career

Smith decided to take up coaching after his playing days were over, starting in various assistant capacities with several Division I colleges before moving on to the NFL: San Diego State (1982–1985), Morehead State (1986) and Tennessee Tech (1987–1998). His first NFL job was as defensive assistant/defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 1999 under defensive line coach Rex Ryan for three seasons. In 2002, he was promoted to linebackers' coach for head coach Brian Billick, tutoring such future standouts as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper and Adalius Thomas, and in that capacity helped the 2000 Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV. On January 21, 2003 he was again promoted, moving on to be defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars for incoming head coach Jack Del Rio.

In 2008, he became head coach for the first time at any level, taking charge of the Atlanta Falcons and starting off his first season by installing rookie Matt Ryan as starting quarterback to open the season against the Detroit Lions. In his debut as an NFL head coach, his Falcons beat the Lions 34–21. Atlanta’s 216 yards of total offense in the first quarter was the highest in over two decades, eclipsing their October 13, 1991 mark of 172 yards against San Francisco. His first loss, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was mitigated by winning his first coach's challenge, on the spotting of the ball after a Roddy White reception in the third quarter, giving the Falcons a first down and keeping the drive alive. Stars like Michael Turner, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins and John Abraham helped him carry the Falcons to their first playoff berth since 2004, although they lost fairly narrowly 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 difficult schedule and several key injuries (to QB Ryan and RB Turner) to end up with a 9-7 finish and second place in the NFC South. While they failed to reach the playoffs, this marked the first time the team had ever had back-to-back winning seasons. In 2010, he 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 before being thrashed at home by the eventual Super Bowl XLV champions, the Green Bay Packers, 48-21 in the NFC Divisional Round.

The 2011 season ended with another winning record (10-6) and Smith's third playoff appearance (unfortunately, a first-round rout, by another eventual Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants. Under Smith, the Falcons have had winning seasons in all five years of his tenure to date, and three consecutive playoff seasons, both franchise records.

In the 2012 season, Smith earned his 50th win by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles on October 28th, passing Dan Reeves as the winningest coach in Falcons history. Smith reached 50 wins in 71 games, which is good for 3rd best all-time since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, surpassed only by Chuck Knox who earned his 50th win in 65 games and by George Seifert in 62 games.

On January 13, 2013, Smith recorded his first win in the postseason as Falcons head coach, edging the Seattle Seahawks 30-28 in the 2012 NFC Divisional Playoffs. With the win, Atlanta also made their 3rd all-time appearance in the NFC Championship Game, and will host the game for the first time in their history against the San Francisco 49ers.

Coach Smith was named AOL_SportingNews 2013 Coach of the Year by a pool of 27 NFL coaches and executives. With receiving the award this third time it places him with the likes of Joe Gibbs, Chuck Knox, and Paul Brown. Mike received his three awards as fast though as Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns, who won his three similarly in five years. At present Don Shula holds the highest rank of four, in the history with the Sporting News' award.

On May 11, 2013, Mike Smith did a motivational speech at his alma mater East Tennessee University for the Graduation Class of 2013.

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
ATL	2008	11	5	0	.688	2nd in NFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to Arizona Cardinals in NFC Wild-Card Game.
ATL	2009	9	7	0	.563	2nd in NFC South	-	-	-	-
ATL	2010	13	3	0	.813	1st in NFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to Green Bay Packers in NFC Divisional Game.
ATL	2011	10	6	0	.625	2nd in NFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to New York Giants in NFC Wild-Card Game.
ATL	2012	13	3	0	.813	1st in NFC South	1	1	.500	Lost to San Francisco 49ers in NFC Championship Game
Total		56	24	0	.700		1	4	.200

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Mike Smith has served:

• Brian Billick, Baltimore Ravens (1999–2002)
• Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars (2003–2007)

Assistant coaches under Mike Smith who became NFL head coaches:

• Mike Mularkey, Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)

Personal

Smith is the oldest of eight children. Mike and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Logan who is thirteen years old. Mike is the brother-in-law of Brian Billick.

External links

• Atlanta Falcons profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Pease	Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator 2003-2007	Succeeded by Gregg Williams
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Bill Belichick	NFL Coach of the Year Award 2008	Succeeded by Marvin Lewis