Ryan Smith is in his third season with the Cardinals after he was hired to coach cornerbacks on 3/1/23. He came to Arizona from Northwestern University where he spent the 2022 season in the same role with the Wildcats.
In 2024, Arizona's defense was one of the best in the NFL in the second half of the season. Over the final 11 games, the Cardinals were 4th in the league allowing an average of just 19.6 points per game. They also allowed the fewest total TDs (20) and passing TDs (10) in the NFL during that span. Second-year CB Garrett Williams was named a second-team All-Pro by PFF after having two interceptions, nine passes defensed and 58 tackles.
In his first season with the Cardinals in 2023, Smith mentored veteran CB Antonio Hamilton Sr. to a career year – a career-high 36 tackles, an INT and a team-leading 11 passes defensed.
While at Northwestern, Smith tutored CB Cam Mitchell who was a 2023 fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. Prior to working at Northwestern, Smith spent two seasons (2020-21) at Virginia Tech coaching cornerbacks and added the title of defensive pass game coordinator in 2021. Smith was one of two ACC staff members named to the 24/7Sports.com College Football Rising Stars list in 2020.
In his first season at Virginia Tech in 2020, Smith mentored future Titans first-round pick CB Caleb Farley while also tutoring freshman All-American CB Dorian Strong. In 2021, he helped CB Jermaine Walker to All-ACC second-team honors after finishing with a league-best four INTs to go along with 45 tackles, five passes defensed and a TD.
Smith coached safeties and was a pro scout liaison at James Madison in 2019, helping the Dukes finish 1st in the FCS in total defense (264.7 ypg), 3rd in scoring defense (14.9 ppg) and 2nd in third-down percentage (29.0%) on the way to an appearance in the FCS National Championship Game. James Madison tied for 7th in the FCS with 17 INTs, 11 of which came from Smith's safeties. Under his tutelage, safeties Adam Smith and D'Angelo Amos both earned first-team all-conference honors. Smith led the team with six INTs and was a third-team All-American selection while Amos had two INTs and three blocked kicks.
Prior to his time at James Madison, Smith spent two seasons (2017-18) coaching the secondary at Elon University where he had multiple players earn All-Conference honors. Defensive backs Greg Liggs Jr. (2nd) and Tyler Campbell (3rd) were all-conference selections in 2018. Liggs Jr. and DB Connor Christiansen tied for 3rd in the conference that season after each had four INTs. In 2017, DB Chris Blair earned third-team All-CAA accolades.
Smith went to Elon after spending two seasons (2015-16) at Penn State as a defensive graduate assistant where he was part of a 2016 team that won the Big Ten Championship and played in the Rose Bowl, finishing with an 11-3 record. The Nittany Lions had 10 INTs and broke up 60 passes in 2015. He helped develop four future NFL defensive backs in Marcus Allen, Troy Apke, Trevor Williams and Jordan Lucas. Smith started his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Texas-San Antonio in 2014.
He played cornerback collegiately at William & Mary (2010-13) and helped the Tribe to the 2009 FCS semifinals. As a senior, Smith started all 12 games and finished the season with 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, 10 passes defensed and an interception. He played 22 games at William & Mary and was a two-time CAA Academic All-Conference selection (2012-13).
A native of King George, VA, Smith graduated from William & Mary in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Process Management and received his master's degree in Educational Leadership from Penn State. He and his wife, Kristina, have two daughters, Leila Michele and Soleil.
