| Brian Smith | |
| Current Title: | Offensive coordinator & running backs coach |
| Current Team: | Ohio |
| Current Conference: | MAC |
| Birth Date: | 9 August 1980 |
| Birth Place: | Thousand Oaks, California |
| Player Years1: | 1998–2001 |
| Player Team1: | Hawaii |
| Player Positions: | Center, long snapper |
| Coach Years1: | 2003 |
| Coach Team1: | Royal HS (CA) (OL) |
| Coach Years2: | 2004 |
| Coach Team2: | Hawaii (SA) |
| Coach Years3: | 2005 |
| Coach Team3: | Cal Lutheran (RB/WR) |
| Coach Years4: | 2006 |
| Coach Team4: | Oregon State (GA) |
| Coach Years5: | 2007 |
| Coach Team5: | Portland State (OL) |
| Coach Years6: | 2008 |
| Coach Team6: | Hawaii (OL) |
| Coach Years7: | 2009–2011 |
| Coach Team7: | Hawaii (RB) |
| Coach Years8: | 2012 |
| Coach Team8: | Cal Lutheran (OL) |
| Coach Years9: | 2013–2015 |
| Coach Team9: | Occidental (OC/OL) |
| Coach Years10: | 2016 |
| Coach Team10: | Hawaii (AHC/OC/RB) |
| Coach Years11: | 2017 |
| Coach Team11: | Hawaii (AHC/OC/RB/TE) |
| Coach Years12: | 2018–2019 |
| Coach Team12: | Hawaii (AHC/OC/RB) |
| Coach Years13: | 2020 |
| Coach Team13: | Washington State (OC/RB) |
| Coach Years14: | 2021 |
| Coach Team14: | Washington State (AHC/OC/RB) |
| Coach Years15: | 2022 |
| Coach Team15: | Ohio (PGC/RB) |
| Coach Years16: | 2023 |
| Coach Team16: | Ohio (AHC/PGC/RB) |
| Coach Years17: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team17: | Ohio (AHC/OC/RB) |
Brian Smith (born August 9, 1980) is an American football coach who is currently the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Ohio University. He was previously the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii, where he also played college football.
Smith played center at Hawaii from 1998 to 2001. He was also the team's starting long snapper in that same time duration. He was the college roommate of Nick Rolovich, and the two would practice long snaps in their apartment hallway.[1] [2] Following his playing career at Hawaii, Smith signed professional contracts with the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens in 2002 and 2003, respectively.[3]
After spending one year coaching the offensive line at Royal High School in Simi Valley, California, Smith joined the coaching staff at Hawaii as a student assistant while he completed his bachelor's degree. He also spent time as an assistant at Cal Lutheran, Oregon State, and Portland State.
Smith was hired to be the offensive line coach at Hawaii in 2008 on Greg McMackin's inaugural staff, before shifting to coaching running backs in 2009. Smith was not retained by newly hired head coach Norm Chow for the 2012 season.
Smith spent 2012 as the offensive line coach at Cal Lutheran, and was hired to be the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Occidental College in 2013.[4]
Smith joined the Hawaii coaching staff for the third time in his coaching career, this time under his college roommate Rolovich and as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator.[5] He was also the team's running backs coach the entire duration of his stint, while also working as the tight ends coach in 2017 before the position was vacated in 2018 due to the change in offensive scheme from spread option to run and shoot.
After Rolovich departed Hawaii to be the next head coach at Washington State, Smith was considered by the public eye to be a possible successor to Rolovich at Hawaii before Todd Graham was named the Rainbow Warriors head coach a couple of weeks later.[6] Smith was then officially added to Rolovich's coaching staff as the offensive coordinator & running backs coach.[7] He added the title of associate head coach in 2021.[8]
Smith was named the passing game coordinator and running backs coach at Ohio in 2022.[9] In his first season with the Bobcats Smith coached running back Sieh Bangura to Freshman All-American honors[10] and MAC Freshman of the Year honors[11] while improving the Ohio passing attack to 23rd nationally, up from 108th in previous season.[12] Prior to the 2023 season Smith was promoted to associate head coach and helped the Bobcats to a second straight ten win season.[13] Prior to the 2024 season he has taken over play calling duties as Ohio's new offensive coordinator.[14]