Utah Tech University Athletics

Michael Smith enters his fourth season on the Utah Tech Football coaching staff, and in 2021, was promoted to defensive pass game coordinator, and will also coach the safeties and nickelbacks. 

Last season, Smith oversaw one of the most talented and deepest secondary units in the WAC and in the FCS, which was headlined by safety Tyrell Grayson, who finished the 2021 regular season as the unofficial NCAA D-I FCS leader in solo tackles (79) and led the WAC in total tackles (103) on his way to second team all-conference and HERO Sports Freshman All-America honors.

In the program’s first FCS season in the spring of 2021, Smith helped lead a defensive unit that surrendered just 168.8 yards in the air.

In his first season at Utah Tech in 2019, Smith led the Blazer defensive backs to the top mark in the RMAC in passing defense, allowing just 193.8 yards per game to go with an opponent completion percentage at just 46.7 percent. Three UT defensive backs earned All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors, led by Aaron Simpson, who also earned All-Region honors. 

Smith came to Utah Tech after spending the 2018 season as a defensive analyst at BYU. At BYU, Smith helped analyze and break down offensive and defensive coaching strategies, developed assessments and recommendations on athletes’ recruitment, and aided in the development of coaching and practice sessions. That year, BYU earned a berth in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where it claimed a 49-18 win over Western Michigan.

Prior to his time at BYU, Smith served three years (2015-18) as a football strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Oregon State where, among many duties, he helped coach all concepts of the OSU football strength and conditioning program.

After his time at Utah State, Smith was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2012 National Football League draft. Smith spent two years with the Buccaneers and a short time with the New York Jets before injuries hampered his NFL career. Smith’s professional career also included a stint with the Ottawa Redbacks of the Canadian Football League in 2014, before he retired and turned to coaching.

Smith enjoyed an exceptional career as a running back at Utah State (2009-11), where as a senior in 2011, he led the Western Athletic Conference and ranked third in the NCAA in rushing yards per attempt, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Smith also helped lead the Aggies to a berth in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, USU’s first bowl appearance in 14 years. Smith rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries, earning game MVP honors. 

Prior to Utah State, Smith earned All-Western States Football League honors as a sophomore at Eastern Arizona College, where he was named EAC Athlete of the Year in 2009. Smith was also named a team captain at both Eastern Arizona and Utah State.

Smith earned Bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Economics at Utah State in 2012, and a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Oregon State in 2017. Mike and his wife Karrie are the parents of two children - daughter London, and son August.