Background and career
Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American professional football coach. He has been the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and head coach for the Bears in 2006.
Smith was raised in Big Sandy, Texas, and was named after his great-aunt, Lavana.
During Smith's high school career at Big Sandy, he earned all-state honors for his 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; Their offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.
Smith played college football at the University of Tulsa under head coach John Cooper. He was a two-time All-American at linebacker and defensive back.
After graduating from college, he immediately pursued a coaching career. In 1980, Smith was hired as defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Big Sandy High School. A year later, he left for Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, where he coached defensive backs and wide receivers from 1981 to 1982.
Starting in 1983, Smith began coaching linebackers on the college level. He first served at his alma mater, the University of Tulsa (1983–1986), moving on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1987), Arizona State University (1988–1991), and last coached linebackers at the college level at the University of Kentucky (1992). He also served as defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee (1993–1994) and Ohio State University (1995).
