Football
- Title:
- Director of Player Development / Secondary Assistant Coach
- Email:
- smithci@jacks.sfasu.edu
THE SMITH FILE
Hometown: Mansfield, Texas
High School: Mansfield Legacy HS
College: Texas A&M-Commerce (2018)
Playing Experience: Texas A&M-Commerce (Played in 52 games in his four-year A&M-Commerce career... Recorded 109 career tackles with eight tackles for loss... Had five career interceptions and two blocked kicks and recorded a safety... Was part of two LSC Championship teams and the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship team)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2023-Present: SFA | Director of Player Personnel / Defensive Assistant (DB)
2019-22: SFA | Director of Player Personnel / Sports Performance Assistant / Offensive Assistant (RB)
Chris Smith enters his eighth season at Stephen F. Austin in 2026, continuing his work as the Lumberjacks’ director of player development and secondary assistant coach. Since joining the program in 2019, Smith has contributed in player development, sports performance and on-field coaching roles on both sides of the football.
Smith began his SFA tenure as an offensive assistant working with the running backs while also assisting the sports performance program. He remained on the offensive side through the 2022 season before transitioning to the secondary in 2023. Since making that move, Smith has assisted with the development of SFA’s defensive backs while continuing to oversee player-development efforts.
During Smith’s time in Nacogdoches, SFA has produced its first winning season since 2011, earned FCS playoff appearances in 2021 and 2025, captured the 2022 Western Athletic Conference championship and won the 2025 Southland Conference title. The 2025 Lumberjacks finished 11-3, completed an undefeated conference season and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals during one of the most successful campaigns in program history.
Smith’s move to the secondary coincided with significant improvement in SFA’s pass defense. In 2024, the Lumberjacks ranked among the top 10 nationally in pass-efficiency defense, intercepted 17 passes and forced 28 turnovers, the sixth-most in the FCS. Jeremiah Walker earned first-team All-Southland honors and honorable-mention Associated Press All-America recognition, while Charles Demmings was selected to the All-Southland second team. Walker later signed with the Chicago Bears.
The secondary continued its strong play during SFA’s championship season in 2025. Demmings earned first-team All-Southland and first-team All-America honors while becoming the program’s career leader in passes defended. He received invitations to the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl before being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Smith’s player-development work has also been part of a football culture that emphasizes service and leadership. Kicker Chris Campos was named a finalist for the 2024 Fred Mitchell Award, which recognizes excellence in placekicking and community service. In 2025, Ky Thomas was selected as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy after contributing to multiple community service efforts during his time as a Lumberjack.
Before entering coaching, Smith was a four-year safety at Texas A&M-Commerce. He appeared in 52 games and recorded 109 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five interceptions, two blocked kicks and a safety. Smith was part of two Lone Star Conference championship teams and helped the Lions capture the 2017 NCAA Division II national championship. A Mansfield, Texas, native and Mansfield Legacy High School graduate, Smith earned his degree from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2018.
