Ryan Smith CORNERBACKS/ PASSING GAME COORDINATOR @Coach_Smitty

THE SMITH FILE Experience: 8th season/2nd at Virginia Tech Hometown: King George, Virginia High School: Blue Ridge School (2010) College: William & Mary (2014) Playing Exp: William & Mary (2010-13) Family: Wife – Kristina COACHING HISTORY Year School Position 2021 Virginia Tech CBs/Pass Game Coord. 2020 Virginia Tech Cornerbacks 2019 James Madison Safeties 2017-18 Elon Defensive Backs 2015-16 Penn State Graduate Assistant 2014 Texas-San Antonio Graduate Assistant PROMINENT PUPILS CB Dorian Strong Virginia Tech be a good fit with Coach Hamilton and the rest of our True Freshman All-America selection of 247Sports in 2020. COACHING HIGHLIGHTS defensive staff.” • Virginia native enters his second season with the S Marcus Allen D5-2018 – Hokies in 2021. Added passing game coordinator to • Smith is among a long lineage of current coaches who Third-Team All-Big Ten pick in 2016 and an honorable men- tion selection following the 2015 season. his responsibilities to his duties in 2021, in addition to played under Laycock at William & Mary, a distinguished S Troy Apke D4-2018 – Washington serving as Tech’s cornerbacks coach. group that includes current NFL head coaches Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) and Sean McDermott (Buffalo). Has played in 17 NFL games with Redskins (2018-19). • In September 2020 he was one of only two ACC staffers S Jordan Lucas D6-2016 – Miami “I’m honored to accept this opportunity to coach at a to be named to the 30 Under 30 list of rising college • Earned a LIV ring with KC in 2019. Has played in 49 football stars compiled by 247Sports. place like Virginia Tech,” Smith said. “I grew up admiring NFL games with Dolphins (2016-17) and Chiefs (2018-19). the Hokies playing hard-hitting defense and being • Coaches a cornerbacks room at Tech that has historically CB Trevor Williams FA-2016 – San Diego opportunistic on special teams. To have an opportunity Has played in 39 NFL games (27 starts) with Chargers (2016- sent talented performers to the NFL, the latest of whom to help carry on that tradition under Coach Fuente is 18) & Cardinals (2019). was CB Caleb Farley, who was selected in the first round truly a blessing. I can’t wait to be on the sideline at Lane S Adam Smith James Madison of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Stadium and feel the passion of the fans as Hokie Nation Third-team AP All-America honoree & a first-team All- • With Tech’s secondary quickly depleted of anticipated starts jumping.” Colonial Athletic Association pick in 2019. Led the FCS starters in 2020, CB Dorian Strong quickly rose to the • Smith spent the 2017-18 seasons coaching the with 16 pass breakups & ranked fourth with six INTs. S D’Angelo Amos James Madison occasion under Smith’s tutelage. Strong made rapid secondary at Elon University, where Greg Liggs, Jr. AFCA first-team All-America selection and a first-team strides during the season and earned a spot on the True earned second-team All-CAA status. Former Army Freshman All-America Team of 247Sports. CAA pick as both a safety and punt returner in 2019. running back Tyler Campbell switched to defensive back Ranked second in FCS with three blocked kicks. Ranks • With defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton unavailable and was a third-team All-CAA selection at Elon in 2018. second in JMU history with 1,259 career punt return yards. for Tech’s 2020 season opener due to COVID-19 • Campbell, Liggs and Connor Christiansen were three DB Greg Liggs, Jr. Elon protocols, Smith assumed the defensive signal caller of the league’s best defensive backs in 2018. Liggs Second-team All-CAA selection in 2018 at Elon, helped duties the morning of the game and helped lead the and Christiansen tied for third in the CAA with four the Phoenix to the FCS Playoffs. Posted a combined six Hokies to a 45-24 win vs. NC State (9/26/20). apiece in 2018. Liggs was also third in INTs, 20 PDs, two FR and one FF in 2017-18. • Smith arrived in Blacksburg after coaching the safeties passes defended (13) and tied for fourth in DB Tyler Campbell Elon for a James Madison squad that earned a berth in the recoveries (two). Christiansen began his career at Elon Third-team All-CAA selection at Elon in 2018, recorded five INTs, six PDs, three FRs and one FF in 2017-18. 2019 FCS National Championship Game. as a quarterback in 2015-16. DB Chris Blair Elon • James Madison finished the 2019 season with a • DB Chris Blair earned third-team All-CAA accolades Third-Team All-CAA pick had 88 total tackles, five INTs, 14-2 record and boasted one of the nation’s stingiest under Smith’s tutelage in 2017. 2.0 sacks, 18 PDs, four FRs and four FFs in 2017. defenses at the FCS level last season. The Dukes’ only • Worked two seasons at Penn State, serving as a losses came by a 20-13 margin at West Virginia (8/31) defensive graduate assistant where he was part of a PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS and in the FCS Championship Game vs. eight-time FCS 2016 squad that won the Big Ten Championship, earned • Three-year letterman for head coach Jimmye Laycock at title winners, North Dakota State. a berth in the Rose Bowl and finished 11-3 overall. William & Mary. • Part of a squad that made the semifinals of the FCS • JMU ranked first in total defense (264.7 ypg), second • Penn State’s defense picked off 10 passes and broke up playoffs in 2010. in third-down percentage (29.0) and third in scoring 60 more in 2015. • As a senior cornerback, Smith tallied 47 tackles, one defense (14.9 ppg). • Helped develop four Penn State players who earned NFL sack and one in 2013. • James Madison also tied for seventh in the nation with 17 contracts: S Jordan Lucas, S Marcus Allen, CB Trevor • Played in 22 career games for the Tribe and was a two- interceptions, 13 of which came from Smith’s safeties Williams and S Troy Apke. time CAA Academic All-Conference honoree. in 2019. • Played as both a defensive back and at • Earned his bachelor’s degree in process management The Blue Ridge School. • “We’re excited to add another talented coach to our from the College of William and Mary and a master’s • Served as a team captain during his senior season and staff in Ryan Smith,” head coach Justin Fuente said. “As degree in educational leadership from Penn State was selected to the all-state second team as a wide a collegiate player he was groomed for a future in our University receiver. profession by head coach Jimmye Laycock at William • Smith’s mother, Penelope, served as a Senior Chief in • Also captained his prep basketball and baseball & Mary. He played the cornerback position for Coach the U.S. Navy. He traveled the world with his mother as squads, helping the basketball team to a state runner- Laycock and he was born and raised in Virginia. Ryan a youth when her duty stations included stops in Virginia, up finish as a senior and a state semi-finals appearance has grown at each stop of his coaching career and he’s as a junior. Maryland, California, Florida, Iceland, Panama and Guam. earned the opportunity to join us at Virginia Tech. He’ll