Brian Smith is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach with the University of Iowa football program. He assists with the Hawkeye linebackers.
Smith joined the Hawkeye program from Central Missouri (UCM), serving as the defensive backs coach and co-recruiting coordinator in 2023. The Mules won 11 games and were MIAA Conference champions last season. Smith coached first-team All-American Wyryor Noil, who tied for first nationally in interceptions with six. As a team, UCM had 20 interceptions, third most in the country.
Smith began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at East Central University in 2019. Later that year, he was hired at his alma mater (UCM) as a graduate assistant working with the secondary, leading special teams, and assisting with the recruiting process and youth camps.
After the 2020-21 covid season, Smith went to Wayne State College where he was the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2021. Smith coached two players to all-conference recognition (Kevin Ransom and J’Von France). Smith and the Wildcats posted their first winning season in over 10 years. He developed the special teams game plan each week and assisted the defensive coordinator with weekly adjustments and game planning.
Prior to rejoining UCM in 2023, Smith spent the summer of 2022 as an analyst and player personnel assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.
Smith played one season at defensive back for UCM in 2015 after transferring from Lincoln. He graduated from UCM in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management.