Michael Smith (running back)

Michael Smith (born August 9, 1988) is an American college football coach and former running back. He is the associate head coach, special teams coordinator, and running backs coach for the University of Northern Colorado, a position he has held since 2024. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at Utah State.^[1] He also played for the New York Jets and the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also coached for Oregon State, BYU, and Dixie State/Utah Tech.

Michael Smith

Northern Colorado Bears
Position:	Associate head coach, special teams coordinator, & running backs coach
Personal information
Born:	(1988-08-09) August 9, 1988 (age 36) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Tucson (AZ) Sunnyside
College:	Utah State
NFL draft:	2012: 7th round, 212th pick
Career history
As a player:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012–2013) New York Jets (2014)* Ottawa Redblacks (2014)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Oregon State (2015–2017) Graduate assistant BYU (2018) Defensive analyst Dixie State (2019–2020) Defensive backs coach Dixie State (2021) Defensive pass game coordinator & cornerbacks coach Utah Tech (2022) Defensive pass game coordinator & safeties coach Northern Colorado (2023) Associate head coach, run game coordinator, & running backs coach Northern Colorado (2024–present) Associate head coach, special teams coordinator, & running backs coach
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[2] On May 7, 2012, Smith signed a four-year deal with the Bucs to officially join the Buccaneers roster. The deal was worth $2.165 million over four years and included a $66,000 signing bonus.^[3]

New York Jets

Smith signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets on August 1, 2014.^[4] He was released on August 23.^[5]

Ottawa Redblacks

In 2014, Smith signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).^[6]

Coaching career

In 2015, Smith joined Oregon State as a graduate assistant.^[7]

In 2018, Smith was hired as a defensive analyst for BYU.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019, Smith was hired as the defensive backs coach for Dixie State.^[8] In 2021, he became the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach. In 2022, he retained his position as defensive pass game coordinator but also became the safeties coach.

In 2023, Smith was hired as the associate head coach, run game coordinator, and running backs coach for Northern Colorado.^[9] In 2024, Smith retained his roles as associate head coach and running backs coach but also became the special teams coordinator.^[10][11]