In 2024, Jared Smith enters his third year as a member of the Merrimack football coaching staff. Smith is the Safeties Coach.
Merrimack finished the 2023 season with one of the best defenses statistically in the FCS, including 5th in passing yards allowed. With Smith’s help, the Warriors were 2nd in the NEC for pass defense, 2nd in pass efficiency, and 1st in interceptions. The Warriors also ranked 1st in the NEC for completion percentage (51.3%). Smith helped run a historic Merrimack defense that ranked 5th in Total Defense, 1st in 3rd Down Defense, 4th in Defensive 1st Downs, and 5th in Passing Yards in the FCS.
Merrimack finished the 2022 season 2nd in the NEC boasting an 8-3 record, making it the most wins in a season in their program’s history. The Warriors defense ranked 1st in the NEC for completion percentage (53.9%) and 2nd for pass efficiency.
In 2021, Smith coached at Bowdoin College where he was the Corners Coach and Video Coordinator for the Fall season before switching to Defensive Line and inheriting the title of Director of Football Operations.
Smith spent the 2019 football season as the Corners Coach, Video Coordinator, and Social Media Coordinator at Catawba College. While there, Smith coached Cristopher Page, and helped him gain his 4th All-Conference award. Page was also named the team’s MVP and achieved his career-high for interceptions in a single season (5). Smith improved the number of Total Passes Defended by 12 from the year before with the corners. 74% of all passes defended on defense were from the cornerback position.
Before joining Catawba College, Smith was a graduate assistant at Northwestern State University in 2018. While there, Smith worked with the safeties, and helped coach 1st Team All-Conference safety Hayden Bourgeois.
Smith played collegiately at Gambling State University during the 2014 season before becoming a student assistant coach at UL Lafayette. While with the Ragin' Cajuns, Smith assisted with recruiting tours, official visits, scouting and film breakdown while working with the wide receivers.
Smith graduated from UL Lafayette with a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Behavioral Science in 2018.
