Homer Smith (American football)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Homer Smith
Biographical details
Born(1931-10-09)October 9, 1931
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedApril 10, 2011(2011-04-10) (aged 79)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Playing career
1951–1953Princeton
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1957Stanford (JV)
1958–1959Stanford (freshmen)
1960Stanford (backfield)
1961–1964Air Force (backfield)
1965–1969Davidson
1970–1971Pacific (CA)
1972–1973UCLA (OC)
1974–1978Army
1980–1986UCLA (OC)
1987Kansas City Chiefs (OC)
1988–1989Alabama (OC)
1990–1993UCLA (OC)
1994–1995Alabama (OC)
1996–1997Arizona (OC)
Head coaching record
Overall53–71–1
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SoCon (1969)
Awards
First-team All-Eastern (1952, 1953)

Homer Austin Smith (October 9, 1931 – April 10, 2011) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Davidson College (1965–1969), the University of the Pacific (1970–1971), and the United States Military Academy (1974–1978), compiling a career college football record 53–71–1 and a bowl record of 0–1. Smith was also the offensive coordinator at the University of California, Los Angeles (1972–1973, 1980–1986, 1990–1993), the University of Alabama (1988–1989, 1994–1995), and the University of Arizona (1996), and for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). In 1997, Smith was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top college football assistant coach.

Smith was named 1977 Eastern College Conference Coach of the Year and was presented an Outstanding Achievement Award by the American Football Coaches Association in 2006. As a player, he was a two-time All-East and All-Ivy League fullback at Princeton University. As a coach, Smith has his most success as offensive coordinator at UCLA where he paired with Terry Donahue to lead the Bruins to multiple Rose Bowls and top ten finishes.

In addition to his undergraduate degree from Princeton, he also received post-graduate degrees from

Stanford Business School and Harvard Divinity School.[1]

Smith died in 2011.[2][3][4]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Davidson Wildcats (Southern Conference) (1965–1969)
1965 Davidson 6–4 2–3 T–5th
1966 Davidson 4–5 2–3 5th
1967 Davidson 4–5 1–5 8th
1968 Davidson 3–6 1–3 6th
1969 Davidson 7–4 5–1 T–1st L Tangerine
Davidson: 24–24 11–15
Pacific Tigers (Pacific Coast Athletic Association) (1970–1971)
1970 Pacific 5–6 2–3 T–4th
1971 Pacific 3–8 1–4 6th
Pacific: 8–14 3–7
Army Cadets (NCAA Division I / I-A independent) (1974–1978)
1974 Army 3–8
1975 Army 2–9
1976 Army 5–6
1977 Army 7–4
1978 Army 4–6–1
Army: 21–33–1
Total: 53–71–1

References

  1. ^ Weber, Bruce (April 15, 2011). "Homer Smith, Innovative College Football Coach, Dies at 79". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Homer Smith Dies at 79; Former UCLA Assistant Football Coach" Los Angeles Times Accessed April 13, 2011
  3. ^ Former Arizona offensive coordinator Homer Smith dies at 79 Tucson Citizen April 11, 2011
  4. ^ Homer Austin Smith, Tuscaloosa News, April 11, 2011

External links