Photo by: University of Louisville
Kolby Smith Hired as Running Backs Coach
Feb 26 | Football
Florida native spent last five seasons at Louisville
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash has announced that Kolby Smith will join the staff as running backs coach. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, with NFL playing experience, Smith spent the last five seasons coaching the running backs at Louisville.
Smith helped Louisville, his alma mater, to four bowls, establishing a school record in rushing yards in both 2017 (3,186) and 2016 (3,148). In 2017, the Cardinals ranked No. 15 nationally in rushing with an average of 245.1 yards per game and totaled over 250 yards in seven games. Smith's three running backs combined to rush for 1,225 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 2016 campaign saw the Cardinals total 37 scores on the ground, highlighted by the 903 yards and six touchdowns by Brandon Radcliff, who was second on the team with four 100-yard games.
During the 2015 campaign, Smith helped the Cardinals post their best rushing games in the second part of the season, rushing for over 200 yards in four of the final five games. That included a season-best 314 yards in a 38-24 victory over Kentucky. For the year, the Cardinals averaged a 171.0 yards on the ground and totaled 23 touchdowns.
With a stable of running backs in 2014, Smith's unit recorded 28 rushing touchdowns and averaged 142.7 yards per game in leading the Cardinals to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Belk Bowl. Smith saw his backs record six 100-yard rushing games, including Brandon Radcliff, who tallied a team-best three 100-yard rushing games.
Before returning to his alma mater, Smith's coaching career began in 2013 season as the running backs coach at Western Kentucky.
With the Hilltoppers, Smith tutored Antonio Andrews, the nation's top all-purpose player, to a career season on the ground. Andrews re-set the school rushing mark with 1,730 yards in 2013. WKU running backs combined for 30 of the team's 31 rushing touchdowns in 2013, led by Andrews' career-best 16. He also set a school record for the most 100-yard rushing games in a career (21), in a season (11) and consecutively (11). He generated 125 all-purpose yards in 25 consecutive games, a streak unmatched to within 10 games by any other player in the country.
Smith's running back group also accounted for 724 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air.
As a player at Louisville, Smith led the Cardinals to a 12-1 record as the primary back in 2006. Sharing the backfield that year with Michael Bush, Smith stepped in after an injury to Bush to average more than five yards per carry, scoring seven touchdowns on a team that defeated Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl, the program's first BCS victory.
For his career, Smith rushed for over 1,800 yards, averaging nearly 6.0 yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground. Smith was also a threat catching the ball out of the backfield, pulling in 56 passes for over 500 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith's playing career moved on to the NFL level following his time at Louisville, as he was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith immediately made an impact in his rookie campaign, as he filled the void left by the injured Larry Johnson by rushing for over 400 yards on 112 carries. Smith played in all 16 games in 2007, scoring a pair of touchdowns and earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 150 yards on 31 carries against the Raiders.
Smith finished his NFL career in 2010, spending brief periods with the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Following his professional playing career, Smith moved on to Arkansas to serve as the assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Razorbacks for the 2012 season.
Smith and his wife, Ashley, have two sons, Kolby, Jr., and Karter.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
Smith helped Louisville, his alma mater, to four bowls, establishing a school record in rushing yards in both 2017 (3,186) and 2016 (3,148). In 2017, the Cardinals ranked No. 15 nationally in rushing with an average of 245.1 yards per game and totaled over 250 yards in seven games. Smith's three running backs combined to rush for 1,225 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 2016 campaign saw the Cardinals total 37 scores on the ground, highlighted by the 903 yards and six touchdowns by Brandon Radcliff, who was second on the team with four 100-yard games.
During the 2015 campaign, Smith helped the Cardinals post their best rushing games in the second part of the season, rushing for over 200 yards in four of the final five games. That included a season-best 314 yards in a 38-24 victory over Kentucky. For the year, the Cardinals averaged a 171.0 yards on the ground and totaled 23 touchdowns.
With a stable of running backs in 2014, Smith's unit recorded 28 rushing touchdowns and averaged 142.7 yards per game in leading the Cardinals to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Belk Bowl. Smith saw his backs record six 100-yard rushing games, including Brandon Radcliff, who tallied a team-best three 100-yard rushing games.
Before returning to his alma mater, Smith's coaching career began in 2013 season as the running backs coach at Western Kentucky.
With the Hilltoppers, Smith tutored Antonio Andrews, the nation's top all-purpose player, to a career season on the ground. Andrews re-set the school rushing mark with 1,730 yards in 2013. WKU running backs combined for 30 of the team's 31 rushing touchdowns in 2013, led by Andrews' career-best 16. He also set a school record for the most 100-yard rushing games in a career (21), in a season (11) and consecutively (11). He generated 125 all-purpose yards in 25 consecutive games, a streak unmatched to within 10 games by any other player in the country.
Smith's running back group also accounted for 724 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air.
As a player at Louisville, Smith led the Cardinals to a 12-1 record as the primary back in 2006. Sharing the backfield that year with Michael Bush, Smith stepped in after an injury to Bush to average more than five yards per carry, scoring seven touchdowns on a team that defeated Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl, the program's first BCS victory.
For his career, Smith rushed for over 1,800 yards, averaging nearly 6.0 yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground. Smith was also a threat catching the ball out of the backfield, pulling in 56 passes for over 500 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith's playing career moved on to the NFL level following his time at Louisville, as he was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith immediately made an impact in his rookie campaign, as he filled the void left by the injured Larry Johnson by rushing for over 400 yards on 112 carries. Smith played in all 16 games in 2007, scoring a pair of touchdowns and earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 150 yards on 31 carries against the Raiders.
Smith finished his NFL career in 2010, spending brief periods with the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Following his professional playing career, Smith moved on to Arkansas to serve as the assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Razorbacks for the 2012 season.
Smith and his wife, Ashley, have two sons, Kolby, Jr., and Karter.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
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