According to a report from Chris Low of ESPN running backs coach Kevin Smith is leaving the Miami football program to return to Mississippi for the same position. Mario Cristobal hired Smith on his inaugural staff last year from Mississippi. Miami was 95th nationally in 2022 averaging 128.33 yards rushing.
Smith is a Miami native who is a Southridge alum before playing in college at Central Florida. Smith spent five seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Prior to working on the Mississippi staff in 2020 and 2021, Smith was RB coach under Lane Kiffin from 2017 through 2019 at Florida Atlantic.
Smith began his coaching career as an intern at Central Florida in 2015 and as a quality control administrator in 2016. The return by Smith to Mississippi is the third coaching change for Miami on Tuesday. Miami reportedly hired Shannon Dawson as offensive coordinator and Derek Nicholson as LBs coach earlier in the day.
Henry Parrish who transferred to Miami from Mississippi following Smith led Miami with 616 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Miami lost RBs Thad Franklin to Louisiana and Jaylan Knighton to Southern Methodist as transfers following the 2022 season. Smith helped Miami sign three four-star RBs in the last two classes.
Kevin Smith is finalizing a deal to reunite with @Lane_Kiffin at @OleMissFB as RB coach, sources tell ESPN. It’s been an exodus from the @CanesFootball staff this offseason. Smith was with Kiffin at FAU and then went with him to Ole Miss and helped recruit Quinshon Judkins.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 14, 2023
Miami surprised recruiting analysts when they signed four-star RB Tre’Vonte Smith in the 2022 class out of Louisiana when Florida was favored to receive his National Letter of Intent. Smith was credited with the Miami football program being able to sign four-star RBs Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson in the 2023 class.
There are no early leads on who could replace Smith. The Miami football program now has position coaching openings at RB and WR coach after the hiring of Dawson earlier on Tuesday. The expectation is that Dawson will coach QBs in addition to his responsibilities as offensive coordinator. Miami starts spring practice on March 4.