DeAndre Smith joins the Syracuse staff to mentor the running backs for head coach Scott Shafer. (photo courtesy of University of New Mexico)
Shafer Names Smith Running Backs Coach
1/21/2013 10:58:00 AM | Football
DeAndre Smith, who has mentored nine 1,000-yard rushers in 14 years of collegiate coaching, brings his talents to Syracuse to mentor the running backs for head coach Scott Shafer. A St. Louis native, Smith has coached NFL running backs Mikel (University of Illinois) and Michael "The Burner" Turner and Garrett Wolfe, both from the Northern Illinois University.
"Our running backs will be physical and very intelligent on the field," Smith said. "We have to secure the football and we have to make plays. It is an honor to be part of the great running backs tradition at Syracuse. When you walk through the Carrier Dome and see the history and tradition of running backs it is inspiring. I want to continue to build on that and continue the tradition of great Orange running backs."
In 2012, Smith tutored All-Mountain West running back Kasey Carrier, who set a school record with 1,469 yards rushing, was 12th nationally with 122.4 yards per game, and scored 15 touchdowns. He set a New Mexico single-game record 338 yards against Air Force. The Lobos ground game averaged 301.3 yards per outing, which ranked fifth in the nation. It was Smith's second stop at New Mexico after coaching the Lobos running backs in 2008, as well. In 2008, he mentored second-team All-Mountain West selection Rodney Ferguson to a 1,105-yard rushing season.
"DeAndre Smith is a dynamic recruiter who has experience covering all parts of the nation to bring in some of the best student-athletes." Shafer said. "He has a proven track record, year after year, after year, tutoring several high profile running backs every team he has coached in college football."
Smith spent the 2010-11 seasons as running backs coach at Illinois. In 2010, he guided Mikel Leshoure to numerous school records, including rushing yards (1,697), touchdowns (20), rushing touchdowns (17), 100-yard rushing games (9) and single-game rushing yards (330 vs. Northwestern). The Illini led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked 11th in the nation with an average of 246.1 yards per game. Prior to his tenure at Illinois, Smith coached the running backs at UNLV.
From 2005-07, Smith served as the running game coordinator and running backs coach at Miami of Ohio and received a promotion to associate head coach in his final season. Smith helped Redhawks running back Brandon Murphy to second-team All-MAC honors and 1,070 yards rushing in 2005.
Smith's connection with Shafer and Syracuse offensive coordinator George McDonald began at Northern Illinois, where Smith coached the running backs from 2001 through 2004. The Huskies won three Mid-American Conference West Division championships during his tenure. Under his guidance, NIU produced four straight all-conference running backs from 2001-04. Current Atlanta Falcon Michael Turner rushed for a league-record 1,915 yards in 2002. Under Smith's tutelage, Turner led the MAC in rushing twice (2002-03).
As a sophomore in 2004, Garrett Wolfe paced the league and ranked fifth nationally with 1,656 yards. Wolfe was a 2007 NFL draft pick and played four years for the Chicago Bears. In his first season with the Huskies, Thomas Hammock rushed for 1,096 yards. In four years at NIU, the squad went 33-14, posted a 10 and nine-win season and went to the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.
Smith began his coaching career in 1999, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana State for two seasons. During that time, he molded quarterback Sheraton Fox to 1,034 yards rushing, the first signal-caller to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a season in Gateway Conference history.
A graduate of Missouri State in Springfield, Smith was a standout quarterback for the Bears, leading his team to two consecutive Gateway Conference Championships in 1989 and 1990. He earned All-America honors and National Offensive Player of the Year recognition in 1990. Smith totaled 6,356 yards of total offense, including 2,276 rushing yards, and accounted for 58 touchdowns during his career, earning the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Decade award for 1985-95.
After earning his degree in organizational communication from Missouri State in 1992, Smith went on to play professionally for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (1992) and in France (1993).
Smith and his wife Lori have three children: daughter Ashley and sons Ryan and Donovan.
Syracuse fans are invited to reserve football season tickets for the inaugural season in the ACC today by placing a $25 deposit to get first shot at the best available locations. Deposits can be made online (click here) , by phone (888-DOME-TIX), or in-person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
"Our running backs will be physical and very intelligent on the field," Smith said. "We have to secure the football and we have to make plays. It is an honor to be part of the great running backs tradition at Syracuse. When you walk through the Carrier Dome and see the history and tradition of running backs it is inspiring. I want to continue to build on that and continue the tradition of great Orange running backs."
In 2012, Smith tutored All-Mountain West running back Kasey Carrier, who set a school record with 1,469 yards rushing, was 12th nationally with 122.4 yards per game, and scored 15 touchdowns. He set a New Mexico single-game record 338 yards against Air Force. The Lobos ground game averaged 301.3 yards per outing, which ranked fifth in the nation. It was Smith's second stop at New Mexico after coaching the Lobos running backs in 2008, as well. In 2008, he mentored second-team All-Mountain West selection Rodney Ferguson to a 1,105-yard rushing season.
"DeAndre Smith is a dynamic recruiter who has experience covering all parts of the nation to bring in some of the best student-athletes." Shafer said. "He has a proven track record, year after year, after year, tutoring several high profile running backs every team he has coached in college football."
Smith spent the 2010-11 seasons as running backs coach at Illinois. In 2010, he guided Mikel Leshoure to numerous school records, including rushing yards (1,697), touchdowns (20), rushing touchdowns (17), 100-yard rushing games (9) and single-game rushing yards (330 vs. Northwestern). The Illini led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked 11th in the nation with an average of 246.1 yards per game. Prior to his tenure at Illinois, Smith coached the running backs at UNLV.
From 2005-07, Smith served as the running game coordinator and running backs coach at Miami of Ohio and received a promotion to associate head coach in his final season. Smith helped Redhawks running back Brandon Murphy to second-team All-MAC honors and 1,070 yards rushing in 2005.
Smith's connection with Shafer and Syracuse offensive coordinator George McDonald began at Northern Illinois, where Smith coached the running backs from 2001 through 2004. The Huskies won three Mid-American Conference West Division championships during his tenure. Under his guidance, NIU produced four straight all-conference running backs from 2001-04. Current Atlanta Falcon Michael Turner rushed for a league-record 1,915 yards in 2002. Under Smith's tutelage, Turner led the MAC in rushing twice (2002-03).
As a sophomore in 2004, Garrett Wolfe paced the league and ranked fifth nationally with 1,656 yards. Wolfe was a 2007 NFL draft pick and played four years for the Chicago Bears. In his first season with the Huskies, Thomas Hammock rushed for 1,096 yards. In four years at NIU, the squad went 33-14, posted a 10 and nine-win season and went to the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.
Smith began his coaching career in 1999, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana State for two seasons. During that time, he molded quarterback Sheraton Fox to 1,034 yards rushing, the first signal-caller to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a season in Gateway Conference history.
A graduate of Missouri State in Springfield, Smith was a standout quarterback for the Bears, leading his team to two consecutive Gateway Conference Championships in 1989 and 1990. He earned All-America honors and National Offensive Player of the Year recognition in 1990. Smith totaled 6,356 yards of total offense, including 2,276 rushing yards, and accounted for 58 touchdowns during his career, earning the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Decade award for 1985-95.
After earning his degree in organizational communication from Missouri State in 1992, Smith went on to play professionally for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (1992) and in France (1993).
Smith and his wife Lori have three children: daughter Ashley and sons Ryan and Donovan.
Syracuse fans are invited to reserve football season tickets for the inaugural season in the ACC today by placing a $25 deposit to get first shot at the best available locations. Deposits can be made online (click here) , by phone (888-DOME-TIX), or in-person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
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