Ryan Smith was named Northwestern's cornerbacks coach in January of 2022. Smith comes to Evanston after spending two seasons at Virginia Tech in a similar role while also serving as the program's defensive pass game coordinator for the 2021 season.
Considered a rising star in the industry, Smith was one of two Atlantic Coast Conference staff members to be named to 247Sports' 2020 College Football Rising Stars list. During his time in Blacksburg, he mentored 2021 Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Caleb Farley, while Dorian Strong was recognized on 247Sports' True Freshman All-America Team under his tutelage in 2020. Smith worked with cornerback Jermaine Waller to an All-ACC second team selection last season after Waller finished the regular season with a league-best four interceptions to go along with 45 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and five pass breakups in 11 games played.
The King George, Virginia, native arrived at Virginia Tech in January of 2020 after spending the 2019 campaign coaching the safeties and serving as the pro scout liaison at James Madison. In his lone year with JMU, the Dukes boasted one of the nation's stingiest defenses at the FCS level, ranking third in scoring defense (14.9 ppg), first in total defense (264.7 ypg) and second in third-down percentage (29.0%) en route to a berth in the FCS National Championship Game. James Madison also tied for seventh in the FCS with 17 interceptions, 11 of which came from Smith's safeties unit. He coached a pair of All-Colonial Athletic Association safeties at JMU in Adam Smith and D'Angelo Amos, who both earned first-team accolades. Smith was also a third-team All-America selection at safety, while Amos earned All-America honors as a punt returner. Smith led the Dukes with six interceptions, which was fourth nationally and second in the CAA. Amos had a pair of interceptions, while blocking three kicks on special teams.
Prior to his stint at JMU, Smith spent the 2017-18 seasons coaching the secondary at Elon University, where Greg Liggs, Jr. earned second-team All-CAA status and Tyler Campbell was a third-team All-CAA selection in 2018. Liggs and Connor Christiansen were two of the league's best defensive backs, as the duo were tied for third in the CAA with four interceptions apiece in 2018. Liggs was also third in passes defended (13) and tied for fourth in fumble recoveries (two). Under Smith's tutelage in 2017 Chris Blair earned third-team All-CAA accolades.
Smith worked two seasons at Penn State, serving as a defensive graduate assistant where he was part of a 2016 squad that won the Big Ten Championship, earned a berth in the Rose Bowl and finished 11-3 overall. Penn State's defense picked off 10 passes and broke up 60 more in 2015. During his time in University Park, Pa., he helped develop four NFL players in Jordan Lucas, Marcus Allen, Trevor Williams and Troy Apke. Smith spent one season as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2014.
A 2014 graduate of the College of William & Mary, Smith helped the Tribe to a 2009 FCS semifinals appearance. As a senior cornerback, Smith tallied 47 tackles, one sack and one interception. In total, he played in 22 games for the Tribe and was a two-time CAA Academic All-Conference honoree. He earned his bachelor's degree in process management from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in educational leadership from Penn State University. Smith is among a long lineage of current coaches who played under Jimmye Laycock at William & Mary, a distinguished group that includes current NFL head coaches Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) and Sean McDermott (Buffalo).
Considered a rising star in the industry, Smith was one of two Atlantic Coast Conference staff members to be named to 247Sports' 2020 College Football Rising Stars list. During his time in Blacksburg, he mentored 2021 Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Caleb Farley, while Dorian Strong was recognized on 247Sports' True Freshman All-America Team under his tutelage in 2020. Smith worked with cornerback Jermaine Waller to an All-ACC second team selection last season after Waller finished the regular season with a league-best four interceptions to go along with 45 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and five pass breakups in 11 games played.
The King George, Virginia, native arrived at Virginia Tech in January of 2020 after spending the 2019 campaign coaching the safeties and serving as the pro scout liaison at James Madison. In his lone year with JMU, the Dukes boasted one of the nation's stingiest defenses at the FCS level, ranking third in scoring defense (14.9 ppg), first in total defense (264.7 ypg) and second in third-down percentage (29.0%) en route to a berth in the FCS National Championship Game. James Madison also tied for seventh in the FCS with 17 interceptions, 11 of which came from Smith's safeties unit. He coached a pair of All-Colonial Athletic Association safeties at JMU in Adam Smith and D'Angelo Amos, who both earned first-team accolades. Smith was also a third-team All-America selection at safety, while Amos earned All-America honors as a punt returner. Smith led the Dukes with six interceptions, which was fourth nationally and second in the CAA. Amos had a pair of interceptions, while blocking three kicks on special teams.
Prior to his stint at JMU, Smith spent the 2017-18 seasons coaching the secondary at Elon University, where Greg Liggs, Jr. earned second-team All-CAA status and Tyler Campbell was a third-team All-CAA selection in 2018. Liggs and Connor Christiansen were two of the league's best defensive backs, as the duo were tied for third in the CAA with four interceptions apiece in 2018. Liggs was also third in passes defended (13) and tied for fourth in fumble recoveries (two). Under Smith's tutelage in 2017 Chris Blair earned third-team All-CAA accolades.
Smith worked two seasons at Penn State, serving as a defensive graduate assistant where he was part of a 2016 squad that won the Big Ten Championship, earned a berth in the Rose Bowl and finished 11-3 overall. Penn State's defense picked off 10 passes and broke up 60 more in 2015. During his time in University Park, Pa., he helped develop four NFL players in Jordan Lucas, Marcus Allen, Trevor Williams and Troy Apke. Smith spent one season as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2014.
A 2014 graduate of the College of William & Mary, Smith helped the Tribe to a 2009 FCS semifinals appearance. As a senior cornerback, Smith tallied 47 tackles, one sack and one interception. In total, he played in 22 games for the Tribe and was a two-time CAA Academic All-Conference honoree. He earned his bachelor's degree in process management from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in educational leadership from Penn State University. Smith is among a long lineage of current coaches who played under Jimmye Laycock at William & Mary, a distinguished group that includes current NFL head coaches Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) and Sean McDermott (Buffalo).