The Miami Dolphins have conducted some last minute additions to their coaching staff. With the start of training camp looking to be approximately one month away, Miami’s new additions aren’t necessarily heavy hitters, but they figure to help allow the Dolphins staff to properly allocate their time and energy into directing the team to a successful season. One of the team’s two hires is Kolby Smith — he will serve as an offensive quality control coach for the Dolphins in 2020.
Who is coach Kolby Smith, and how did he get here?
Smith is a former collegiate and pro running back whose journey to the NFL started at the University of Louisville. He played there from 2003 to 2006, logging over 1,800 rushing yards and 20 career touchdowns in his time with the Cardinals. Smith was then drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 5th-round of the 2007 NFL Draft; although pro success on the field was much harder to come by.
Smith played his first three NFL seasons in Kansas City before being cut three times in a single summer by the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars — he never saw the field as a player again.
Smith did, however, latch on as an assistant coach at the college level in the aftermath of his playing career. His coaching career to date includes stops at Arkansas (2012, assistant strength and conditioning), Western Kentucky (2013, tailbacks coach), Louisville (2014-2018, tailbacks coach) and Rutgers (2019, tailbacks coach).
Coach Smith won’t directly be molding running backs by himself in Miami, as the presence of coach Eric Studesville will provide Miami’s backs with direction. But the experience Smith has in coaching running backs probably had great appeal to Miami — as the team is desperate to find new life for their ground game in 2020.