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Lovie Smith

Lovie Smith
Photograph of Smith wearing a Bears pullover jacket, Bears baseball cap and headset on the Bears sideline
Smith with the Chicago Bears in November 2009
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Illinois
Conference Big Ten
Record 3–9
Annual salary $4 million
Biographical details
Born (1958-05-08) May 8, 1958 (age 58)
Gladewater, Texas
Playing career
1976–1979 Tulsa
Position(s) Linebacker, defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1980 Big Sandy High School (DC)
1981–1982 Cascia Hall Prep (ADB/WR)
1983–1986 Tulsa (LB)
1987 Wisconsin (LB)
1988–1991 Arizona State (LB)
1992 Kentucky (LB)
1993–1994 Tennessee (DB)
1995 Ohio State (DB)
1996–2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LB)
2001–2003 St. Louis Rams (DC)
2004–2012 Chicago Bears
2014–2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2016–present Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall 89–87 (NFL)
3–9(college)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
NFL Coach of the Year Award (AP, PFW, 2005)

Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He was previously the head coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 2004 to 2012, and the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014 to 2015. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Bears in 2006.

Lovie Smith was born in Gladewater and raised in Big Sandy, Texas. He was named after his great aunt, Lavana.

During Smith's high school career at Big Sandy, he earned all-state honors for three years as a defensive end and linebacker. His team won three consecutive state championships from 1973 to 1975, including a 0–0 tie in 1974 versus G. A. Moore's Celina. In 1975, Big Sandy had one of the most dominant seasons in high school football history, as the defense allowed only 15 points (11 shutouts) all season, while the offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.

Smith played college football at University of Tulsa under head coach John Cooper. He was a two-time All-American at linebacker and defensive back.


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