Ryan Smith enters his first season at FIU after serving as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Murray State (2024) and for the previous six seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, among other duties, at Florida A&M from (2018-23), after being hired by Simmons when he was the Rattlers' head coach in 2018.
Smith joined the Florida A&M coaching staff in 2018, serving as the linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator and director of player personnel. In 2020, Smith was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and then associate head coach in 2023.
In 2022, Smith played a pivotal role in developing linebackers Isaiah Major and Johnny Chaney Jr. Major finished the season leading the Rattlers with 83 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss. Major was named to the Phil Steele All-SWAC First Team and the All-SWAC Second Team. Chaney Jr. was named to the Phil Steele All-SWAC Fourth Team after finishing second with 57 tackles.
Under Smith, the Rattlers ranked top-25 in five defensive categories and top ten in three. Smith also worked with defensive lineman Isaiah Land, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2021, Smith helped lead one of the best defenses in Rattlers’ history as they ranked the top-25 in 15 different categories, top-10 in nine, and top-five in one.
Smith worked with defensive lineman Isaiah Land, who led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, as he was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and became the Rattlers’ first Buck Buchanan Award (national defensive player of the year) winner. Smith also worked with safety Markquese Bell, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Before joining the Rattlers, Smith served as the assistant recruiting coordinator at the University of Florida under former head coach Jim McElwain from 2016 to 2018.
In 2015, Smith served as an offensive quality control coach under Nick Saban at the University of Alabama. While in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, won the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship and produced a Heisman Trophy winner, running back Derrick Henry.
Before joining the collegiate coaching ranks, the Perry, Fla. native served as the head coach of three high school football programs in Florida. He worked at Gainesville High School, Deland High School, and his alma mater, Taylor County High School.
Smith lettered in football at Valdosta State, where he played defensive line. He became a student assistant in 1999. He earned a B.A. in Health and Physical Education Fitness.
Smith is married to his wife, Tracey. They have two children, Brady and Jordan.
Ryan Smith Timeline
| 2025-present |
FIU |
Linebackers |
| 2024 |
Murray State |
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties |
| 2018-23 |
Florida A&M |
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2016-18 |
Florida |
Assistant Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2015 |
Alabama |
Offensive Quality Control |
