.jpg)
Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Lovie Smith
Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American professional football coach. He has served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and head coach for the Bears in 2006.
Smith was raised in Big Sandy, Texas, and was named after his great-aunt, Lavana.
During Smith's high school career at Big Sandy, he earned all-state honors for his three years as a defensive end and linebacker. His team won three consecutive state championships from 1973 to 1975, including a 0–0 tie in 1974 versus G. A. Moore's Celina. In 1975, Big Sandy had one of the most dominant seasons in high school football history, as the defense allowed only 15 points (11 shutouts) all season; Their offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.
Smith played college football at the University of Tulsa under head coach John Cooper. He was a two-time All-American at linebacker and defensive back.
After graduating from college, he immediately pursued a coaching career. In 1980, Smith was hired as defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Big Sandy High School. A year later, he left for Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, where he coached defensive backs and wide receivers from 1981 to 1982.
Starting in 1983, Smith began coaching linebackers on the college level. He first served at his alma mater, the University of Tulsa (1983–86), moving on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1987), Arizona State University (1988–91), and last coached linebackers at the college level at the University of Kentucky (1992). He also served as defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee (1993–94) and Ohio State University (1995).
Smith began his NFL coaching career as a linebacker coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under the guidance of head coach Tony Dungy, he helped develop the Tampa 2 defense. After spending five years with the Buccaneers, Smith was hired as the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams under head coach Mike Martz. While in St. Louis, Smith improved the Rams' defense, which went from giving up a league-worst 29.4 points per game in 2000, to an average of 17.1 points per game in 2001. The Rams won the NFC Championship Game and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI. The team ultimately lost to the New England Patriots in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time.
The Chicago Bears hired Smith as head coach in 2004, following the dismissal of Dick Jauron. Upon arriving in Chicago, Smith stated he had three goals: beat the Green Bay Packers, win the NFC North, and win a Super Bowl. His first season with the Bears was a struggle, from implementing new offensive and defensive systems, to a series of injuries, including a season-ending knee injury to starting quarterback Rex Grossman. The team finished with a 5–11 record. Despite their poor offense, the Bears' defense saw significant improvement, rising from 22nd in 2003 to 13th in 2004.
Hub AI
Lovie Smith AI simulator
(@Lovie Smith_simulator)
Lovie Smith
Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American professional football coach. He has served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and head coach for the Bears in 2006.
Smith was raised in Big Sandy, Texas, and was named after his great-aunt, Lavana.
During Smith's high school career at Big Sandy, he earned all-state honors for his three years as a defensive end and linebacker. His team won three consecutive state championships from 1973 to 1975, including a 0–0 tie in 1974 versus G. A. Moore's Celina. In 1975, Big Sandy had one of the most dominant seasons in high school football history, as the defense allowed only 15 points (11 shutouts) all season; Their offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.
Smith played college football at the University of Tulsa under head coach John Cooper. He was a two-time All-American at linebacker and defensive back.
After graduating from college, he immediately pursued a coaching career. In 1980, Smith was hired as defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Big Sandy High School. A year later, he left for Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, where he coached defensive backs and wide receivers from 1981 to 1982.
Starting in 1983, Smith began coaching linebackers on the college level. He first served at his alma mater, the University of Tulsa (1983–86), moving on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1987), Arizona State University (1988–91), and last coached linebackers at the college level at the University of Kentucky (1992). He also served as defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee (1993–94) and Ohio State University (1995).
Smith began his NFL coaching career as a linebacker coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under the guidance of head coach Tony Dungy, he helped develop the Tampa 2 defense. After spending five years with the Buccaneers, Smith was hired as the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams under head coach Mike Martz. While in St. Louis, Smith improved the Rams' defense, which went from giving up a league-worst 29.4 points per game in 2000, to an average of 17.1 points per game in 2001. The Rams won the NFC Championship Game and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI. The team ultimately lost to the New England Patriots in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time.
The Chicago Bears hired Smith as head coach in 2004, following the dismissal of Dick Jauron. Upon arriving in Chicago, Smith stated he had three goals: beat the Green Bay Packers, win the NFC North, and win a Super Bowl. His first season with the Bears was a struggle, from implementing new offensive and defensive systems, to a series of injuries, including a season-ending knee injury to starting quarterback Rex Grossman. The team finished with a 5–11 record. Despite their poor offense, the Bears' defense saw significant improvement, rising from 22nd in 2003 to 13th in 2004.