- Mike Smith (American football)
NFL PlayerCoach
Name=Mike Smith
Color=#bd0d18
fontcolor=black
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1959|6|13
Birthplace=
College=
Position=Head Coach
coach=yes
coachingyears=1999-2002
2003-2007
2008-present
coachingteams=Baltimore Ravens
(Linebackers coach)Jacksonville Jaguars
(Defensive Coordinator)Atlanta Falcons
(Head coach)Mike Smith (born
June 13 ,1959 inChicago ) is the currenthead coach for theNFL 'sAtlanta Falcons . He previously served as thedefensive coordinator for theJacksonville Jaguars since the 2003 season.A native of
Daytona Beach, Florida , Smith playedlinebacker at Father Lopez High School, earning All-State honors. Collegiately, he played forEast Tennessee State University between 1977 and 1981, being named defensive MVP twice. Professionally, Smith briefly played for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League for the 1982 season before retiring.Smith decided to take up coaching after his playing days were over, and would serve at several Division I colleges before moving onto the NFL: San Diego State (1982-1985), Morehead State (1986), and Tennessee Tech (1987-1998). He was hired as linebackers coach for the
Baltimore Ravens in 1999, and tutored such players asRay Lewis ,Peter Boulware ,Jamie Sharper , andAdalius Thomas . Smith was a part of the 2000 Ravens that capturedSuper Bowl XXXV . OnJanuary 21 ,2003 , Mike Smith was named defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for the incoming head coachJack Del Rio .Atlanta Falcons
On January 23, 2008 the Atlanta Falcons announced that Smith would be their next head coach. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3211259 Falcons hire Jags assistant Smith as coach] ] . He started his Falcons tenure with a 2-2 record in the preseason. He won his first regular season game, defeating the
Detroit Lions 34-21. In the second game of the season the Falcons were defeated by theTampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 whenquarterback Matt Ryan was sacked four times and intercepted 2 times. The Falcons defense allowed 160 passing yards and 164 rushing yards. Smith won his second game in Week 3 over theKansas City Chiefs 38-14.References
Eternal links
* [http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Mike_Smith.aspx Atlanta Falcons Profile]
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