Last Updated: Feb.14, 2025
Twitter: @coachsmitttty
Brian Smith was named Head Coach on Dec. 18, 2024 after serving as the Associate Head Coach (spring 2023) and Offensive Coordinator (spring 2024). Smith joined the Bobcats as the Running Backs Coach and Passing Game Coordinator prior to the 2022 season.
The Bobcats won their first game with Smith at the helm, capping off the 2024 campaign with a 30-27 victory over Jacksonville State in the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl. This win marked Ohio's first time in program history recording an 11-win season as well as the program's sixth-straight bowl victory, becoming the first Mid-American Conference program to win six-straight bowl games. On the road to an 11-win season, the Bobcats picked up their first conference championship since 1968, defeating rival Miami (Ohio) by the largest margin of victory in a MAC Championshipnship (38-3).
The Bobcats saw two 1,000 yard rushers in the 2024 season in quarterback Parker Navarro and running back Anthony "Tre" Tyus III. Both earned Second Team All-MAC accolades following their regular-season performance, with Navarro also earning MAC Offensive MVP accolades following their victory in Detroit and StaffDNA Cure Bowl MVP accolades to close the season. Navarro is the second quarterback in
program history to log over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season (1,062), an accomplishment an Ohio quarterback hasn't claimed since 1996. Notably, Navarro is the first quarterback in program history to record over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Additionally, wide receiver Coleman Owen became just the third Bobcat to log over 1,000 receiving yards in program history, breaking the Bobcats' record for most receiving yards in a season at the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl to finish the season with 1,245 yards in the air. Tyus and Owen mark the program's first 1000 yard rusher/receiver duo.
Smith has a proven record in developing young talent. In 2023, he coached freshman Rickey Hunt Jr., who led the Bobcats in their 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl. Hunt not only scored his first rushing and receiving touchdowns during the bowl game, but set a program record for most touchdowns scored in a single game (5) and tied the NCAA record for number of touchdowns scored in a bowl game. With Smith's guidance, redshirt freshman running back Sieh Bangura earned 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Bangura finished the season fourth in the league with 1,078 total rushing yards and was third in total rushing touchdowns (13). In MAC play, Bangura recorded a conference-best 11 rushing touchdowns.
Smith was Washington State offensive coordinator and running backs coach prior to being promoted to associate head coach. In 2020, he saw five student-athletes earn All-PAC 12 Conference honors and produced the PAC-12's top red zone offense and third-best passing attack. Smith also coached the 2021 PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, Jayden de Laura.
Prior to Pullman, Smith was the University of Hawaii's associate head coach and offensive coordinator, working specifically with running backs and tight ends from 2016-19, where he previously coached from 2008-11. In 2018, he oversaw the No. 9 ranked passing offense, averaging 310 yards per game, and mentored nationally ranked quarterback Cole McDonald, who was No. 6 in passing touchdowns (36) and No. 8 in total passing yards (3,875). Smith directed the 2016 offense, which scored 40 or more points on three occasions, highlighted by a 52-35 Hawaii Bowl victory.
From 2013-15, Smith was Occidental College's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. The 2015 team averaged 33.8 points and 480.6 yards total of offense per game. Under Smith's leadership, quarterback Bryan Scott was named the 2013 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year and running back Kwame Do was named the 2015 SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Prior to Occidental, Smith served as the offensive line coach at California Lutheran in 2012 after his first coaching stint at Hawaii. While there, he led the Kingsmen to a league championship and the second-best scoring offense in NCAA Division III. Smith previously coached California Lutheran in 2005, where he worked with running backs and receivers.
In 2007, Smith took a position with Portland State as an offensive line coach after spending 2006 as a graduate assistant at Oregon State.
Smith was a long snapper and center at Hawaii from 1998-01 before signing professional contracts with the Baltimore Ravens (2002) and Green Bay Packers (2003). He earned his bachelor's degree from Hawaii and continued his education at California Lutheran, earning his master's degree. Smith and his wife, Liane, have one daughter, Chloe.
