Opposing Coach- Meet Mike Smith

Mike Smith was named the 17th head coach in Falcons history on January 23, 2008.

In his first three seasons with the team, he compiled two playoff appearances and three straight winning seasons for the first time in franchise history.

Under the direction of Head Coach Mike Smith the club posted the NFC’s top record at 13-3 in 2010, the number one seed in the conference and was the second-most wins in a season in team annals. Smith’s team also captured the NFC South title last season for only the fourth Division crown in franchise history (and first since 2004) and the eight consecutive victories in 2010 was the second longest streak ever. Under Smith’s direction last year, the Falcons were the only team to rank in the top 5 in both scoring offense and scoring

defense.

The Atlanta Falcons finished the 2009 campaign strong with three consecutive victories, including two wins on the road, to close out their season with a winning record at 9-7. The three-game winning streak at the end of the year secured the first consecutive winning seasons in team history.

With Smith’s determined leadership in 2008, the Falcons enjoyed one of the biggest turnarounds that the NFL has ever witnessed. The seven-win swing going from 4-12 to 11-5 is tied for the fourth-best mark (at +7 wins) in the league for a rookie head coach since 1978. Smith’s 11 victories are tied for the top mark with five other head coaches for the best record for a rookie head coach taking over a team that finished below .500 the previous season. And only three rookie head coaches in NFL history had more wins in their first campaign on the sidelines than Smith.

Forhiscoachingefforts,Smithearnedtheprestigious Associated Press and Sporting News 2008 NFL Coach of the Year honors, as well as NFC Coach of the Year by the respected KC 101 Club. Smith boasts a strong coaching background that includes 11 NFL seasons and 28 total years in football. His defensive track record shows a remarkable amount of success, as he helped guide the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl XXXV Championship in 2000 as a defensive assistant coach and led the Jacksonville Jaguars defense to top 10 rankings in several categories (overall defense, points allowed and rushing defense) during his time as the club’s defensive coordinator. With Smith’s help, the Jaguars had the sixth-most wins in the NFL (from 2004-07) with 40 victories. From 2003–2007, Smith led Jacksonville’s defensive unit, which ranked fourth in overall defense (296.6), third in offensive points allowed (16.1) and fifth in rushing defense (99.3) from 2003–2006. In his last season in Jacksonville in 2007, the Jaguars rushing defense continued that trend as the unit ranked sixth in the AFC, holding opponents to 100.3 yards per game. The Jaguars defense under Smith’s direction also finished 12th in the NFL in total defense in ‘07.

During Smith’s five seasons in Jacksonville, three defensive players garnered six Pro Bowl selections, and he contributed to three winning seasons (2004– 2005, 2007) as the team reached the playoffs for the sixth occasion in franchise history in 2007 and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Divisional Playoff… game on the road at Heinz Field. Prior to joining the Jaguars, Smith spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and was the defensive assistant/defensive line coach from 1999–2001, which included the team’s 2000 Super Bowl winning season. In 2002, Smith served as Baltimore’s linebackers coach.

Before joining the NFL ranks, Smith spent 12 seasons at Tennessee Tech from 1987–1998. He was the Golden Eagles’ defensive coordinator for the last three seasons as the team finished in the top 10 in the nation in total defense (1997 and 1998). He joined the Tennessee Tech staff… as the defensive line coach and then served as the special team coordinator from 1988 to 1995. Prior to his last season with the Golden Eagles, Smith was promoted to assistant head coach on top of his defensive coordinator duties.

Smith played college football at East Tennessee (1977–1981) and was named defensive MVP twice at his position. He led the team with a school record 186 tackles as a senior. A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, Smith was born on June 13, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. He and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Logan, and reside in Suwanee, Georgia.

• – Head Coach Raheem Morris is 0-4 against the Atlanta Falcons and Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith.
• – Smith is 5-1 all-time against the Buccaneers, winning the last four meetings.