JONATHAN SMITH HEAD COACH Fourth Season at Oregon State @Coach Smith
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2021 OREGON STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF JONATHAN SMITH HEAD COACH Fourth season at Oregon State @Coach_Smith In 2019, after Head Coach Jonathan Smith’s second season leading Ore- gon State, Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes, noted, “we’re ahead of shedule.” In spite of a pandemic shortened 2020 season, Smith has continued that upward trend for Oregon State football. In 2020, Smith’s third season at OSU, the Beavers played in a school-record five consecutive games decided by six points or less, defeating California and No. 9 Oregon. Notably, the Beavers were one of just two Pac-12 Conference in nearly every possible category on the field, won three road league games for teams to play its full slate of league games in the pandemic shortened season. the first time since 2013, and tied for the best winning percentage improvement The past two seasons, the conference’s coaches have taken note of the in the Conference. team’s progression on the field. Fifteen Beavers were named to the all-confer- The 2019 season also included a number of individual honors, led by junior ence team in 2020, the most for an OSU squad since 2008. Those 15 selec- linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr., earning All-America by every major college tions came a season after seven Beavers were recognized in 2019, at the time football organization and fellow linebacker Omar Speights being highlighted the most for OSU since 2013. with Freshman All-America accolades. In 2020, Nathan Eldridge, Jermar Jefferson and Avery Roberts became the Smith’s early success led the OSU administration to extend his contract first Beavers named to the first team since Brandin Cooks in 2013. through 2025 season. Jefferson became a two-time All-American in 2020 and was named the Co- By all accounts, Coach Smith’s immediate goals upon his return to OSU Offensive Player of the Year for the conference by the Associated Press. The prior to the 2018 season in the football leadership position of creating a culture, junior, who was in Smith’s first Oregon State recruiting class, ended his OSU laying a foundation, and emphasizing recruiting for future success has been career fifth in rushing yards (2,923), rushing touchdowns (27) and 100-yard widely successful. efforts (15). He was also selected as a Freshman All-American and the Pac-12’s Smith was officially introduced as the Beavers’ head coach November 29, Freshman Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. 2017. He inherited a program in need of stability, strong leadership, and with a Jefferson was a two-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week in 2020, vision of success on and off the field. while Jesiah Irish (special teams), Champ Flemings (special teams) and Nathan In his first season, the team was among the most productive in the Pac-12 Eldridge (offensive lineman) were all recognized, giving the Beavers five selec- for several offensive categories, won on the road for the first time since 2014, tions for the first time since the 2013 season. and featured true freshman Jefferson, who set school records for rushing on On the field improvement is clearly measurable, but it’s as much off the his way to All-American and Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year ac- field success that has led to the rise of the Beavers’ fortunes. OSU football stu- colades. In addition, receiver Timmy Hernandez secured the program’s first dent-athletes have been selected to the Pac-12 Academic team 82 times over Academic All-America honor since 1999. Smith’s first two seasons in Corvallis, a mark that ranks second in the Pac-12. When Barnes officially introduced Smith, the first OSU graduate to ever lead The trend continues upward for academic success with the team boasting a the football program, he highlighted the former Beaver quarterback’s legacy in cumulative GPA at over 3.25, including an OSU record 3.41 for the 2020 Spring Corvallis. Term. “He has a unique perspective on what it means to be a part of Beaver Nation A near unanimous selection to finish in last place in the Pac-12 Conference and to be successful for our student-athletes on and off the field,” Barnes said. in 2019, Smith led the Beavers to a near bowl game berth before ending the As a student-athlete, Smith was a four-year letterman quarterback at Or- campaign tied for second place in the Pac-12 North. OSU improved statistically egon State from 1998-2001. He came to the program as a walk-on from Glen- dora, Calif., joining then head coach and OSU’s all-time winningest mentor Mike Riley. Smith earned his first start on Oct. 31, 1998 and never relinquished that role for the final 38 games of his career. The two-time team captain led the Bea- vers to the 1999 Oahu Bowl and the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, where OSU capped an 11-1 season with a dominating 41-9 victory over Notre Dame and a No. 4 final Associated Press ranking. “Oregon State University is a special place and I have many memories of be- ing a part of Beaver Nation,” Smith said at his introductory press conference. “I played for some of the best coaches I have ever been around and learned many of the qualities I have utilized in my coaching career.” Smith left OSU as the school’s all-time leading passer with 9,680 yards -- he now ranks third among all Beaver quarterbacks in total passing yardage. At the time of his graduation his records included career touchdown passes (55); single-game passing yards (469 yards); and single-season passing yards 58 @BeaverFootball COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF 2021 OREGON STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE (3,053 yards in 1999). He still holds the mark for the longest touchdown pass OREGON STATE IN 2020/HEADING INTO 2021 at 97 yards to Chad Johnson in 2000. Smith left OSU ranked No. 3 at the time in conference history for passing yards and total offense. • The Beavers return 17 players who started at least four games during the 2020 His honors as a player were numerous while wearing the Orange and season. Fifteen of those 17 started at least five. Black. He was the Fiesta Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player, earned Pac-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week multiple times and was a two-time • Avery Roberts (69 tackles) and Omar Speights (63 tackles) finished one and member of the league’s Honorable Mention team. two in the Pac-12 and each return in 2021. Smith’s coaching career started, in many respects as a player, but offi- cially as a graduate assistant coach in 2002 and 2003 under both Dennis • Roberts and offensive lineman Nathan Eldridge were named All-Pac-12 First Erickson and Riley, respectively. He helped the Beavers to the 2002 Insight Team selections by the conference’s coaches. Redshirt freshman offensive line- Bowl and 2003 Vegas Bowls, and in the process assisted in the grooming of man Joshua Gray was named to the second. Additionally, eight of the team’s 10 longtime NFL quarterback Derek Anderson. honorable mention selections are back in 2021. Prior to returning to Oregon State, Smith served as the offensive coordi- nator and quarterbacks coach for the Washington Huskies, a program that he • Roberts received the fourth-best PFF overall grade among Pac-12 linebackers helped build into a conference and national championship contender. During at 76.8. He was also fourth in coverage grading at 75.4 and pass rush (71.6). his tenure he coached Husky record-setting quarterback and 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year Jake Browning, and helped the Huskies to the 2016 College • Oregon State continued to be one of the Pac-12’s best in red zone conversions. Football Playoff and the 2017 Fiesta Bowl. in 2020 OSU scored on 25 of its 28 trips inside the red zone, ranking third in the The 42-year-old Smith earned his first full-time coaching position at Idaho Pac-12 with a 89.29 percent success rate. The Beavers scored touchdowns 21 in 2004, where he served as the quarterbacks coach through 2009. In his times, a 75 percent tally. final season with the Vandals, the team ranked ninth in the NCAA for total of- fense (451.4 yards per game); 12th in the nation for passing offense (286.7 • Oregon State played in a school-record five consecutive games decided by six yards per game); and 20th in scoring (32.7 points per game). points or less in 2020. The Beavers averaged 28.2 points per game that stretch From 2010-11, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach while holding opponents to just 29.8 points per game. for Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powerhouse Montana, lead- ing the Grizzlies to the NCAA Division I semifinals in 2011. While Smith was at Montana, the Grizzlies’ offense ranked in the top 20 nationally in multiple categories. JONATHAN SMITH YEAR-BY-YEAR Smith joined Boise State for the 2012 and 2013 seasons as the Broncos’ AP Rank quarterbacks coach. He helped guide the team to the 2012 Mountain West Date Opponent TV OSU/Opp. Score Attend. Conference co-championship and a victory over the Washington Huskies in 2018 (2-10) the Las Vegas Bowl. Coach: Jonathan Smith Following the 2013 regular season at Boise State, Smith followed head S1 at Ohio State ABC -- / 5 L 31-77 102,168 S8 Southern Utah PAC12 -- / -- W 48-25 36,448 coach Chris Petersen to Washington to serve as the Huskies’ offensive coor- S15 at Nevada ESPNU -- / -- L 35-37 20,462 dinator and quarterbacks coach.