Brian Smith - Simplicity & Variety in the Defense

Brian Smith was named Rice's defensive coordinator on December 12, 2018 after spending the previous two years as the defensive backs coach at Michigan. After two seasons coaching the Owls’ linebackers, Smith returns to coach the safeties, as he did in his first three seasons on South Main.Smith was a four-year letterman and three-year starter in the secondary for the Minutemen and was a member of the program's 1998 NCAA Division I-AA national championship team. Smith registered 306 stops, 23 tackles for loss, 23 pass breakups and eight interceptions during his career. He earned All-Atlantic 10, All-New England and All-ECAC honors as a senior in 2000.

Smith graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts in 2001. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Smith was a three-time Atlantic 10 and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and was twice named to the Division I-AA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star team.