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Robb Smith is entering his fifth season on the Maine coaching staff and his first as defensive coordinator. Smith was named to the post in February after serving as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach during the 2005 campaign. Prior to that, Smith spent the first-three seasons at Maine working with the defensive backs. In his first-four seasons on the Black Bears staff, Smith has mentored three players who have been named to the All-Atlantic 10 First-Team and one who has earned All-America status. The linebacking unit was one of the strengths of 2005 Black Bear squad, as three of the top-four tacklers on the team were linebackers. Smith tutored senior co-captain Jermaine Walker, who earned First-Team All-Atlantic 10 honors after recording a team-best 114 tackles. Walker's average of 10.5 tackles per game ranked fifth in the conference, which also helped earn him a spot on the New England Football Writers I-AA All-Star Team. In April 2006, Walker was invited to the Washington Redskins mini-camp. A pair of underclassmen also excelled at linebacker under Smith. Sophomore John Wormuth finished tied for 22nd in the conference with an average of 7.0 tackles per game, while freshman Jovan Belcher placed 32nd with a mark of 6.4. Belcher's tackles per game was the fourth highest by a freshman in the conference. He also ranked tied for 55th in the nation in forced fumbles. Overall, Smith worked with a defense that finished 26th nationally in total defense. The Black Bears gave up an average of 326 yards per game, which was 80 yards fewer than they allowed during the 2004 season. During the 2004 campaign, Smith helped tutor Brandon McGowan, who led the team with 101 tackles, while being named to The Sports Network All-America Third-Team and being selected as a First-Team All-Atlantic 10 honoree. In April 2005, McGowan signed as a rookie free agent with the Chicago Bears, and went on to start the final five games of the season helping lead the team to the 2005 NFC North Division Championship. Daren Stone was another member of the secondary that benefited from Smith's teaching, as the defensive back ranked third on the team with 77 tackles and led the team with four interceptions. In 2003, McGowan earned Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as he led the team in tackles with 85. During the 2002 season, defensive back Dave Cusano was selected to the All-Atlantic 10 First-Team. Before joining the staff at Maine, Smith worked as a quality control/defensive graduate assistant at the University of Iowa from 1999 to 2001. He was with the 2001 Hawkeye squad that defeated Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl, 19-16. Iowa's defense was ranked second in the Big Ten that season. Smith joined the Iowa football staff after serving as assistant coach at Fordham University in 1998, working with Rich Nagy, Maine's former defensive coordinator. At Fordham, Smith assisted with the defensive secondary, opponent scouting, recruiting and film breakdown. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Smith played at Allegheny College from 1993-97. As a player, Smith was a three-year letterman at Allegheny College as a strong safety. In 1997, Smith served as a tri-captain as a senior and earned the George Coon Dedication Award. Smith helped Allegheny to four North Coast Athletic Conference Championships and NCAA playoff bids, while compiling a five-year record of 47-7. Smith earned his B.A. degree in Economics from Allegheny in 1997. He also earned a Masters degree in Communications from the University of Iowa in 2002. Smith and his wife, Amy, live in Bangor with their son, Charles, who was born last September. |
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