Mike Smith (American football)

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Mike Smith
Date of birth	June 13, 1959 (1959-06-13) (age 48)
Position(s)	Head Coach
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1999-2002 2003-2007 2008-present	Baltimore Ravens (Linebackers coach) Jacksonville Jaguars (Defensive Coordinator) Atlanta Falcons (Head coach)

Mike Smith (born June 13, 1959 in Chicago) is the current head coach for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars since the 2003 season.

A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, Smith played linebacker at Father Lopez High School, earning All-State honors. Collegiately, he played for East Tennessee State University between 1977 and 1981, being named defensive MVP twice. Professionally, Smith briefly played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian 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 as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper, and Adalius Thomas. Smith was a part of the 2000 Ravens that captured Super Bowl XXXV. On January 21, 2003, Mike Smith was named defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for the incoming head coach Jack Del Rio.

[edit] Atlanta Falcons

On January 23, 2008 the Atlanta Falcons announced that Smith would be their next head coach.^[1]

[edit] References

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