Ahmaad Smith, joins the Alcorn State Football Staff as the Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator. Coach Smith comes to 'The Reservation' from Rice University, where he was hired in March 2023 as the Assistant Defensive Backs/Safeties Coach. During his time at Rice, Smith’s 2023 defense returned nine starters that held opponents to 28.1 points and 364.7 yards per game, the lowest totals since 2013 (24.4/364.1) and put together an even more impressive effort in 2024 after his defense finished the regular season ranked ninth in passing defense, holding opponents to 173.8 yards per game - the lowest at Rice since 1986 - and a 55.4 completion percentage (lowest since 2013). Rice ranked 36th in total defense, it’s best ranking since 2013 (30th) and held opponents to an average of 5.04 yards per play, the lowest since 1975 (5.03). The Owls’ defense held opponents to 334.4 yards per game, the lowest since they allowed 313.7 in 1994 and to 4.09 yards per carry, their lowest since 2002 (3.77) while the scoring defense allowed just 25.4 points per game, the lowest average since 1989 (23.3).

Prior to Rice, Coach Smith served 2 years as the Defensive Backs Coach at Dartmouth College. He originally joined Buddy Teevens’ Big Green staff as a defensive assistant in the summer of 2021 and was promoted shortly thereafter to Defensive Backs/Nickels Coach. Smith has built a strong reputation amongst his colleagues for recruiting/signing high-caliber talent along with being an excellent teacher on and off the field. During his time in the Ivy League, his units finished top 5 at the FCS level in several defensive categories, while producing multiple All-Ivy selections and one FCS All-American
 
Smith coached the Defensive Backs and served as Pass Game Coordinator at his alma mater (Tennessee State University) under head coach Rod Reed from 2018-21. His units finished top 10 in FCS in several defensive categories while producing multiple All-OVC and FCS All-Americans. Prior to his return to the Tigers, in 2015, he served in a similar role at Catawba College(D2) in North Carolina for three years, producing two Super Region defensive backs, both of whom became D2 All-Americans.
 
He coached the Defensive Backs at Hampden-Sydney College(D3) in Virginia from 2012-14, mentoring five All-Old Dominion Conference selections and a pair of All-Americans. For his efforts, he was runner-up for the 2013 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
On the Professional level, Smith has spent time with the Tennessee Titans in 2015, Minnesota Vikings in 2017, Cincinnati Bengals in 2020, and the Carolina Panthers in 2024 as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. Coach Smith also completed a Minority internship with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 2016, participated in the 2017 NFL / NCAA Coaching Academy and 1 of 35 coaches selected to participate in the 2018 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. Smith was selected to speak at numerous Glazier Clinics throughout the country in 2022-23 and chosen as a keynote speaker at the 2023 AFCA National Coaches' Convention. Coach Smith currently serves as a member on the American Football Coaches Association(AFCA) Program Committee and the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches(NCMFC).
 
He received both his Bachelor (Business Information Systems) and Master's degrees (Public Administration w/ Minor-Executive Leadership) from Tennessee State University. At Tennessee State, He was a two-year starter at cornerback and served as a team captain while also lettering in basketball and track & field. Upon graduation, he spent five years playing professional football in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League. In 2009, he finished as the Runner-up on former NFL/Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin's reality TV Show '4th and Long'. Coach Smith also serves as National Scout for the American Bowl.
 
Smith is currently working towards completing his Doctoral degree (Public Policy & Administration).