Matt Smith

Outside Linebacker/Special Team Coordinator, California University of Pennsylvania

Matt Smith has been the California Vulcans outside linebackers and special teams coach for the past four season. Smith has been an integral part of the design and development of the Vulcan defense.

He is also the team’s academic coordinator. Smith’s attention to detail in handling study hall, maintaining correspondence with the faculty to monitor the players’ grades, and scheduling of tutors for players who need help in a class, raised the team’s GPA from a 2.1 to a 2.57 in the first year.

After a stellar career as an all-state linebacker at Hardin County H.S. in Savannah, Tenn., Smith was a four-year starting defensive lineman at Arkansas State. He graduated from Arkansas State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and earned his master’s degree a year later as a graduate assistant coach.

Smith began his coaching career in 2000 as the defensive coordinator at Ripley High School, then returned to the collegiate ranks at Southwestern College in Kansas under then head coach Mike Conway, Cal’s current Associate Head Coach.

“Matt is an outstanding young coach,” said head coach John Luckhardt. “He communicates well with his players and does a tremendous job teaching."

Articles by Matt Smith:

Spread Punt: Philosophy, Protection And Coverage

Three Deep Fire Zone Blitz Package