A former first round pick in the NFL Draft, Jason Smith enters his second season on the ACU coaching staff in 2025.

Smith became the Wildcats' running backs coach in January 2025. He spent the 2024 season as the tight ends coach. During ACU's United Athletic Conference championship season, Smith coached All-UAC tight end Jed Castles.

Smith was selected No. 2 overall by the then-St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL Draft after a stellar playing career at Baylor. Smith was with the Rams until joining the New York Jets in 2012 and the New Orleans Saints in 2013. He finished his NFL career in 2014. Smith played tight end and tackle for Baylor, where he was a team captain, and earned All-American and All-Big 12 Conference honors. 

Smith joined the North Texas coaching staff in 2022 as an analyst and coached with the Mean Green for two seasons.

In 2022, North Texas advanced the Conference USA Championship game and earned a trip to the Frisco Bowl. The Mean Green finished in the top three in CUSA in total offense, scoring offense, and rushing offense. UNT finished No. 6 nationally in sacks allowed (0.79).

A Dallas native, Smith was inducted into the Baylor Hall of Fame in 2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor in 2008. Smith and his wife, Dacie, have two children, Jate and Drue.


Coach Keith Patterson says...
"Smooth is one of those guys that brings a competitive edge. Being a first round NFL Draft pick, he carries that over to his coaching style and brings out the best in our players."