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Jonathan Smith (American football coach)

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Jonathan Smith
Smith in 2017
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamMichigan State
ConferenceBig Ten
Record4–4
Biographical details
Born (1979-01-18) January 18, 1979 (age 45)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Playing career
1998–2001Oregon State
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002–2003Oregon State (GA)
2004–2009Idaho (QB)
2010–2011Montana (OC/QB)
2012–2013Boise State (QB)
2014–2017Washington (OC/QB)
2018–2023Oregon State
2024–presentMichigan State
Head coaching record
Overall38–39
Bowls1–1
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Jonathan Charles Smith (born January 18, 1979) is an American college football coach, currently the head coach at Michigan State University.[1] He was previously the head coach for six seasons at his alma mater, Oregon State University.[2] As a player, he was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Beavers under head coaches Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson.

Early years

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Born in Pasadena, California, Smith graduated from Glendora High School in east Los Angeles County in 1997. He went north to play college football at Oregon State, and was originally a walk-on under head coach Mike Riley.

Smith was a four-year starter for the Beavers at quarterback, taking over midway through his redshirt freshman season in 1998 and maintaining the job through his senior season in 2001. As a junior in 2000 under Dennis Erickson, he led the Beavers to their greatest season in school history. The Beavers finished 11–1, a school record for wins, and won a share of their first conference title in 36 years, and finished the season ranked fourth in the country. His wide receivers on the team included future NFL players Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh. Smith was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl.[3][4][5][6]

College statistics

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Passing Rushing
Year Team GP Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Yds TD
1998 Oregon State 6 81 181 44.8 1,427 6 5 -56 0
1999 Oregon State 12 207 425 48.7 3,053 15 7 -96 3
2000 Oregon State 12 170 338 50.3 2,773 20 7 -165 0
2001 Oregon State 11 180 317 56.8 2,427 14 10 -141 1
College Totals[7] 41 638 1,261 50.6 9,680 55 29 -458 4

Coaching career

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Assistant coach

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Smith was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2002 and 2003 under Erickson and Riley. He was the quarterbacks coach for six seasons (2004–2009) at the University of Idaho under three head coaches: Nick Holt, Erickson, and Robb Akey, then the offensive coordinator for two seasons at the University of Montana. Smith was the quarterbacks coach for two seasons at Boise State University under Chris Petersen, then went with him to the University of Washington and stayed for four seasons.

Oregon State

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Smith was named Oregon State's head coach on November 29, 2017.[1] He took the reins of his alma mater in a tumultuous period after Gary Andersen quit on October 9, six games in to his third season.[8] Oregon State was 12–36 (.250) in the four seasons before Smith's arrival.

Smith broke through in his fourth season in 2021, posting his first winning record at 7–6 and receiving an invite to the LA Bowl.[9] The Beavers improved in 2022, posting the third ten-win season in program history after soundly defeating Florida 30–3 in the Las Vegas Bowl.[10]

Smith's initial five-year deal in 2017 paid him $1.9 million annually and automatically extended by one year after every six-win season.[11] On January 7, 2020, Smith received a three-year extension through the 2025 season.[12] After his first winning season in 2021, Smith's contract was rewritten, keeping him signed through the 2027 season and calling for him to make $3.25 million beginning in the 2022 season.[13] After a historic season for the program in 2022, including a win over rival Oregon, Smith's received a new deal with another significant pay increase; the new six-year deal raised his salary to $4.85 million beginning in 2023.[14] Smith's new deal reportedly placed him at fifth in the Pac-12 in compensation, including ahead of his in-state counterpart Dan Lanning.[15]

Michigan State

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Smith was officially named Michigan State's head coach on November 25, 2023.[1] The position had been vacant since late September, after Mel Tucker's employment was terminated.[16]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Oregon State Beavers (Pac-12 Conference) (2018–2023)
2018 Oregon State 2–10 1–8 6th (North)
2019 Oregon State 5–7 4–5 T–2nd (North)
2020 Oregon State 2–5 2–5 4th (North)
2021 Oregon State 7–6 5–4 3rd (North) L LA
2022 Oregon State 10–3 6–3 T–5th W Las Vegas 17 17
2023 Oregon State 8–4 5–4 T–4th Sun[a]
Oregon State: 34–35 23–29
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Michigan State 4–4 2–3
Michigan State: 4–4 2–3
Total: 38–39
  1. ^ Smith left for Michigan State before Oregon State's bowl game

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rittenberg, Adam (November 29, 2017). "Michigan State finalizes deal to hire Jonathan Smith as next head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Jonathan Smith's abrupt departure leaves OSU students reeling". kgw.com. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ^ King, Kelley (January 8, 2001). "Fiesta feast". Sports Illustrated. p. 46.
  4. ^ Rodman, Bob (January 2, 2001). "Fiesta fireworks". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1E.
  5. ^ Baum, Bob (January 2, 2001). "Brash Beavers bash the Irish". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. C1.
  6. ^ Durrenberger, Charles (January 2, 2001). "Bowl win completes OSU's dream season". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Jonathan Smith College Stats
  8. ^ Russell, Marcus (October 9, 2017). "BREAKING: Gary Andersen "mutually parts ways" with Oregon State Football". Building The Dam. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "Oregon State to face Utah State in first LA Bowl". Daily News. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "Oregon State shuts out Florida 30-3 in the Las Vegas Bowl; earning its third 10-win season in program history". KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas. December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Horowitz, Gary. "Oregon State's Jonathan Smith to earn $1.9 million annually". Statesman Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  12. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Nick Daschel | The (January 7, 2020). "Oregon State football coach Jonathan Smith lands a three-year contract extension; new deal runs through 2025 season". oregonlive. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Nick Daschel | The (November 30, 2021). "Oregon State football coach Jonathan Smith's new deal worth $22.6 million for next six years, includes extension clause". oregonlive. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "Oregon State rewards Smith with $30.6M contract". ESPN.com. December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Nick Daschel | The (December 11, 2022). "Oregon State Beavers reward football coach Jonathan Smith with 6-year, $30.6 million contract". oregonlive. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Thamel, Pete (September 27, 2023). "MSU fires Tucker for bringing 'ridicule' to program". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

Further reading

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