Jan. 5, 2010

University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced the hiring of former UNLV running backs coach DeAndre Smith as the newest member of the Fighting Illini coaching staff. Smith, a St. Louis, Mo., native, has tutored six 1,000-yard rushers in his 11 years of collegiate coaching.

"I am very excited about this hire," Zook said. "DeAndre is passionate about the University of Illinois and about being a part of the Illini Family. He grew up in St. Louis and has his roots in the Midwest. He has proven success with the running game and has shown he can develop talent and get the most out of his players."

"If there is a perfect fit for me, it is Illinois," Smith said. "Believe me when I say this is a childhood dream -- growing up so close and having friends who attended the University of Illinois. I am excited about the talent returning on this team. I have already watched film and look forward to continuing the tradition of great running backs."

Smith joined the UNLV staff after spending one season in the same capacity at a fellow Mountain West Conference program New Mexico. While coaching the Lobos running backs, he tutored All-Mountain West selection Rodney Ferguson to a 1,105-yard rushing season.

From 2005-07, Smith served as the running game coordinator and running backs coach at Miami of Ohio and received a promotion to associate head coach in his final season. Smith helped Redhawks' running back Brandon Murphy to second-team All-MAC honors and 1,070 yards rushing in 2005.

Prior to Miami, Smith spent four seasons (2001-04) at Northern Illinois where he was part of three Mid-American Conference West Division championship teams. Under his guidance, NIU produced four straight all-conference running backs from 2001-04, including current Atlanta Falcon Michael Turner, who rushed for a league-record 1,915 yards in 2002. Under Smith's tutelage, Turner led the MAC in rushing twice (2002-03). As a sophomore Garrett Wolfe paced the league in 2004 and ranked fifth nationally with 1,656 yards. Wolfe was a 2007 NFL draft pick and currently plays for the Chicago Bears. In his first season with the Huskies, Thomas Hammock rushed for 1,096 yards. In four years at NIU, the squad went 33-14, posted a 10 and nine-win season and went to the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.

Smith began his coaching career in 1999, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana State for two seasons. During that time, he molded quarterback Sheraton Fox to 1,034 yards rushing, the first signal-caller to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a season in Gateway Conference history.

A graduate of Missouri State in Springfield, Smith was a standout quarterback for the Bears, leading his team to two consecutive Gateway Conference Championships in 1989 and 1990. He earned All-America honors and National Offensive Player of the Year recognition in 1990. Smith totaled 6,356 yards of total offense, including 2,276 rushing yards, and accounted for 58 touchdowns during his career, earning the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Decade award for 1985-95.

After earning his degree in organizational communication from Missouri State in 1992, Smith went on to play professionally for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (1992) and in France (1993).

Smith and his wife, Lori, have three children: daughter Ashley (19), and sons Ryan (14) and Donovan (8).

THE SMITH FILE
2009 -- UNLV (running backs)
2008 -- University of New Mexico (running backs)
2005-07 -- Miami University (assoc. head coach/running backs)
2001-04 -- Northern Illinois University (running backs)
1999-2000 -- Indiana State University (offensive coordinator/running backs)

SMITH'S 1,000-YARD CLUB
2008 - Rodney Ferguson (1,105)
2005 - Brandon Murphy (1,070)
2004 - Garrett Wolfe (1,656)
2003 - Michael Turner (1,648)
2002 - Michael Turner (1,915)
2001 - Thomas Hammock (1,096)
1999 - Sheraton Fox, QB (1,034)