PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach
Greg Schiano has hired
Robb Smith as defensive coordinator. A native of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, Smith previously spent four seasons on the Scarlet Knights' staff from 2009-12 and also worked with Schiano at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Robb is one of the best defensive coaches I've had the pleasure of working with," said Schiano. "We are fortunate to have him joining our staff. He works tirelessly to develop players and help them reach their full potential. We are excited to have him and his family back home."
"I am excited to be back at Rutgers," said Smith. "We had great success our first time around together and I look forward to working with coach Schiano again to accomplish our unfinished business. My family and I are glad to be back in New Jersey."
Smith served in various capacities on the Rutgers staff, including defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2012, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 2011, special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach in 2010 and special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2009.
The 2012 season saw Rutgers claim its first conference title since 1961 and the fifth in school history. The Scarlet Knights finished the year ranked fourth in the nation in points allowed per game (14.2), sixth in rushing yards allowed per game (95.2), 10th in total defense (311.6 yards per game) and tied for third in rushing touchdowns allowed (6). Rutgers allowed just 91 points against seven Big East opponents, ranking as the eighth-lowest total in conference history. The defense held opponents to 95.2 rushing yards per game, only the third time in school history the Scarlet Knights kept the opponent average below 100 yards.
Under Smith's guidance, Rutgers became one of the best special teams units in college football. The Scarlet Knights ranked in the top 10 in blocked punts each of his three years coordinating the unit. Rutgers led the country in 2010 with nine blocked punts, tied for second in 2011 with nine and ranked eighth in 2009 with five. While Smith was at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights led the nation with 31 blocked kicks. They were also one of the best in the nation in punt and kick returns for touchdowns, tying for fifth with five punt return touchdowns and tying for ninth with four kickoff return touchdowns. Their nine combined special teams touchdowns tied for the fifth-highest total in the NCAA during that time.
Smith spent the 2019 season as a defensive analyst with Texas A&M and prior to that, served as the defensive coordinator at Minnesota during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Golden Gophers allowed a total of 274 points in 2017, the fewest permitted by the team since 2004. Smith also worked with the linebackers and saw Thomas Barber earn All-Big Ten Third Team honors after posting 115 tackles.
Smith came to Minnesota from Arkansas, where he spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach. His defense ranked No. 10 in both scoring defense (19.2 points per game) and total defense (323.4 yards per game) in 2014. It was the first time since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992 that the Razorbacks had finished in the top 10 in either statistic. In addition, Arkansas became the first unranked team in college football history to post back-to-back shutouts of ranked opponents when the Razorbacks blanked No. 20 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss in November.
In 2015, Smith's unit excelled against the run, as Arkansas held 12-of-13 opponents below their season rushing average. The Razorbacks allowed only 116.46 yards per game on the ground, which ranked second in the Southeastern Conference and 12th in the nation. Then in 2016, Smith's defense was at its best in the second half of games, as Arkansas allowed only 51 points in the third quarter and 73 in the fourth quarter. His defense also yielded only 12 passing touchdowns in 13 games, while it made 10 interceptions, forced 14 fumbles and recovered 11.
Smith spent the 2013 season as linebackers coach for Schiano in Tampa Bay, which included coaching Lavonte David. An All-Pro, David became the first linebacker and third player since the sack became an official statistic in 1982 to register at least 100 tackles with at least six sacks and five or more interceptions in a season.
Before going to Rutgers, Smith worked at the University of Maine as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2006-08), special teams and linebackers coach (2005) and defensive backs coach (2002-04). Under Smith, Maine boasted one of the top defenses in the FCS, highlighted by the 2006 team that ranked first in rush defense, second in total defense, third in sacks and fourth in scoring defense.
A 1997 graduate of Allegheny (Pa.) College with a bachelor's degree in economics, Smith was a three-year letterwinner at strong safety. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa from 1999-2001 and earned his master's degree in communications studies from Iowa in 2002.
Personal
Hometown: Leechburg, Pa.
Alma Mater: Allegheny, 1997 (economics)
Wife: Amy
Children: Two sons, Charlie and Jack
Coaching Experience
2020-present: Rutgers (defensive coordinator)
2019: Texas A&M (defensive analyst)
2017-18: Minnesota (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2014-16: Arkansas (defensive coordinator/secondary)
2013: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (linebackers)
2012: Rutgers (defensive coordinator/secondary)
2011: Rutgers (special teams coordinator/linebackers)
2010: Rutgers (special teams coordinator/cornerbacks)
2009: Rutgers (special teams coordinator/outside linebackers)
2006-08: Maine (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator)
2005: Maine (special teams/linebackers)
2002-04: Maine (defensive backs)
1999-01: Iowa (quality control/defensive graduate assistant)
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