Football
Brian Smith was named Rice's defensive coordinator on December 12, 2018 after spending the previous two years as the defensive backs coach at Michigan.
After two seasons coaching the Owls’ linebackers, Smith returned to coach the safeties in 2023, as he did in his first three seasons on South Main.
Smith’s 2024 defense returned nine starters from a 2023 unit that held opponents to 28.1 points and 364.7 yards per game, the lowest totals since 2013 (24.4/364.1) and put together an even more impressive effort in 2024.
He was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2024 after his defense finished the regular season ranking 9th in passing defense, holding opponents to 173.8 yards per game-the lowest at Rice since 1986- and a 55.4 completion percentage (lowest since 2013). Rice ranked 36th in total defense, it’s best ranking since 2013 (30th) and held opponents to an average of 5.04 yards per play, the lowest since 1975 (5.03). The Owls’ rushing defense held opponents to 334.4 yards per game, the lowest since they allowed 313.7 in 1994 and to 4.09 yards per carry, their lowest since 2002 (3.77) while the scoring defense allowed just 25.4 points per game, the lowest average since 1989 (23.3).
Smith's defense has produced three team MVPs with linebacker Blaze Alldredge winning the award in 2019 and 2020 and defensive tackle Elijah Garcia taking the honor in 2021 while posting the most productive season by an interior defender at Rice since 1986.
Smith’s 2020 defenders put together one of the most notable efforts for the Owls since they joined Conference USA. They ranked third in total defense in C-USA and 26th nationally (341.6 per game), their best finish since joining the league in 2005 and the lowest by a Rice defense since 1999 (338.6).
It marked the third time in his first three seasons the Owls improved their average, from 446.1 in 2018 to 380.3 in 2019 and 341.2 last season. They ranked 40th nationally by allowing only 140.8 yards per game on the ground, their best since finishing 40th in 1999. After allowing 40 points in a double-overtime loss to Middle Tennessee to open the season, the Owls held the top three scoring offenses in C-USA (UNT, 34.4; Marshall 28.5; UAB 28.4) to a combined 48 points and allowed an average of 13.5 in final four games of the season. They allowed an average of just 18.9 points per game, the lowest allowed by Rice since the 1994 Owls gave up just 18. 5 points (203 in 11 games).
His first Rice defense featured nine first-time starters and closed the year with four freshmen and a JC transfer in the starting lineup, Smith saw his youthful team hold its last three opponents (LA Tech, LSU & ODU) to an average of 122 yards on the ground and 3.9 yards per carry. Three of the Owl four top tacklers were first-time starters (George Nyakwol, 67; Blaze Alldredge 65 and Treshawn Chamberlain 50) while another true freshman starter (Prudy Calderon) led all C-USA freshmen with four interceptions. The Owls also held UTSA to 178 yards (lowest total by an Owl defense since they limited Tulane to just 123 in 2013) and 43 yards through the air, the fewest yards passing allowed by the Owls since they joined C-USA in 2005.
In his two seasons at Michigan, Smith's defensive backs were the part of an overall defensive unit that ranked among the nation's best each year. Entering the bowl season after the 2017 season, Michigan ranked third in the country in total defense (288.8 yards per game) despite losing 10 starters from the 2016 team that ranked fist and saw seven of the 10 starters selected in the NFL Draft.
The Wolverines led the nation in pass defense, surrendering just 142.7 yards per game through the air. Both of the safeties Smith worked with in 2017 (Tyree Kinnel and Josh Metellus) were named All-Big Ten honorable mention by both the coaches and media.
In his first year working with the U-M safeties, Smith coached Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas to career-best seasons which culminated in All-Big Ten honors for both players. Thomas had a career-best 70 stops, with 10 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and his first career interception, while Hill contributed a career-best 52 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, adding six pass breakups and three interceptions.
As a whole, the secondary was part of an elite defensive unit which led or ranked second in the NCAA in seven defensive categories, including pass defense, pass efficiency defense, first and third down conversions allowed and scoring defense. Nearly 45 percent (44.5; 5.62 per game) of opponents' possessions ended in a three-and-outs, and U-M allowed just 28 red zone trips all season, fewest in the nation. Michigan's defensive backs defended 68 passes, with 13 interceptions and three pick-sixes, including one from Hill and the unit allowed only 11 passing touchdowns all season. The defense led the Big Ten in eight categories, including total scoring defense, pass defense, pass defense efficiency, third down conversions allowed and red zone defense, permitting a 43.6 completion percentage on average for opposing quarterbacks.
Smith joined Michigan's staff after spending the 2015 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as the team's assistant linebackers coach.
Prior to joining the Eagles staff, his last pro stop before U-M, Smith spent eight seasons with the New York Jets (2007-14). He worked with the defensive secondary for the Jets during the 2013-14 seasons, mentoring first-round pick Dee Milliner, who earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in December. Smith started his tenure with the Jets as a quality control/offensive coach in 2007 and held various coaching positions with the franchise.
Smith began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts, where he worked with current Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown. Smith coached the outside linebackers in 2004 and switched over to the offensive side of the ball in 2005, mentoring the wide receivers and coaching New York Giants All-Pro and Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz.
Smith was a four-year letterman and three-year starter in the secondary for the Minutemen and was a member of the program's 1998 NCAA Division I-AA national championship team. Smith registered 306 stops, 23 tackles for loss, 23 pass breakups and eight interceptions during his career. He earned All-Atlantic 10, All-New England and All-ECAC honors as a senior in 2000.
Smith graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts in 2001. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Smith was a three-time Atlantic 10 and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and was twice named to the Division I-AA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star team.
