Lovie Smith
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 179-174-1 | 50.71% | 7-8 | 46.67% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Children:
Ron Rivera, Steve Wilks, Dirk Koetter
Biography
Table of Contents
Career Summary
Lovie Smith was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1989 to 2022, finishing his career as the head coach of the Houston Texans. Over his twenty-two years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 179-174-1. During his career he was a head coach for twelve seasons, first with the Chicago Bears. He led the Bears for nine seasons, compiling a record of 81-63-0. He was fired from the Bears on Monday, December 31, 2012. His next head coaching stint was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014 to 2015, as he led the team to a 8-24-0 record. He was fired from the Buccaneers on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. His third head coach placement began in 2022 with the Houston Texans. He coached them for one season and the team had a 3-13-1 record during his tenure. He was fired from the Texans on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Smith was fired just hours after the conclusion of the 2022 season. During his entire head coaching career, his three teams combined for a record of 92-100-1 across twelve seasons including going 3-3-0 in the playoffs.
Career Awards
Smith won the NFL's Coach of the Year award in 2005 after guiding the Bears to a 11-5-0 record and a a berth in the playoffs. During the 2005 season as the head coach of the Chicago Bears he coached Brian Urlacher to the AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Lovie Smith Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, Smith served as an assistant coach for Tony Dungy, Mike Martz, and David Culley. Five of these years were spent on Dungy's coaching staff. During his time as head coach, three assistant coaches, (Ron Rivera, Steve Wilks, and Dirk Koetter) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 124-145-2 in the regular season and 3-5 in the playoffs during their seventeen seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.
Playing Career
Smith played linebacker and safety while at college.
Personal Information
Smith was born on Thursday, May 8, 1958 in Gladewater, Texas. Him and his wife, MaryAnne, have three sons. Their youngest son, Miles, has coached for several years with Lovie.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Houston Texans | Head Coach | 3-13-1 | 0-0 |
| 2021 Houston Texans | Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator | 4-13-0 | 0-0 |
| 2020 Illinois Fighting Illini | Head Coach | 2-6-0 | |
| 2019 Illinois Fighting Illini | Head Coach | 6-7-0 | |
| 2018 Illinois Fighting Illini | Head Coach | 4-8-0 | |
| 2017 Illinois Fighting Illini | Head Coach | 2-10-0 | |
| 2016 Illinois Fighting Illini | Head Coach | 3-9-0 | |
| 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Head Coach | 2-14-0 | 0-0 |
| 2012 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 10-6-0 | 0-0 |
| 2011 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 2010 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 1-1 |
| 2009 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2008 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 2007 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2006 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 13-3-0 | 2-1 |
| 2005 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 2004 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 5-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 2003 St. Louis Rams | Defensive Coordinator | 12-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 2002 St. Louis Rams | Defensive Coordinator | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2001 St. Louis Rams | Defensive Coordinator | 14-2-0 | 2-1 |
| 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Linebackers Coach | 10-6-0 | 0-1 |
| 1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Linebackers Coach | 11-5-0 | 1-1 |
| 1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Linebackers Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Linebackers Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Linebackers Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1995 Ohio State Buckeyes | Defensive Backs Coach | 11-2-0 | |
| 1994 Tennessee Volunteers | Defensive Backs Coach | 8-4-0 | |
| 1993 Tennessee Volunteers | Defensive Backs Coach | 9-2-1 | |
| 1992 Kentucky Wildcats | Linebackers Coach | 4-7-0 | |
| 1991 Arizona State Sun Devils | Linebackers Coach | 6-5-0 | |
| 1990 Arizona State Sun Devils | Linebackers Coach | 4-7-0 | |
| 1989 Phoenix Cardinals | Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship | 5-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 1989 Arizona State Sun Devils | Linebackers Coach | 6-4-1 | |
| 1988 Arizona State Sun Devils | Linebackers Coach | 6-5-0 | |
| 1987 Wisconsin Badgers | Linebackers Coach | 3-8-0 | |
| 1986 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | Linebackers Coach | 7-4-0 | |
| 1985 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | Linebackers Coach | 6-5-0 | |
| 1984 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | Linebackers Coach | 6-5-0 | |
| 1983 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | Linebackers Coach | 8-3-0 | |
| 1982 Cascia Hall High School | Defensive Backs Coach | ||
| 1981 Cascia Hall High School | Defensive Backs Coach |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 12
- Years as a coordinator: 4
- Conference Championships won: 2001 and 2006
- Coach of the Year: 2005
- Led the league in wins: 2001
- Third in total wins for the Chicago Bears.
- Fifth in winning percentage for the Chicago Bears.
- Past teams coached for: Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Phoenix Cardinals
- College Attended: Tulsa Golden Hurricane
- Positions Played: Linebacker and Safety
- Family Members: Mikal Smith, Son
- Date of Birth: Thursday, May 8, 1958 (66 years old), Gladewater, Texas