Miles Smith is in his third season as an assistant coach at Illinois in 2020. Smith is in his second year as the linebackers coach after serving as defensive backs coach in 2018. Miles began 2018 working with outside linebackers and nickel defensive backs in his first season as a graduate assistant coach for the Fighting Illini before being elevated to defensive backs coach for the season.

In 2020, Smith helped Illinois to the 2019 Redbox Bowl, the program’s first bowl in five years, after two of the most memorable victories in Illini history. Illinois clinched bowl eligibility with a 37-34 win at Michigan State in the biggest comeback in program history. Illinois trailed 28-3 in the second quarter and 31-10 entering the fourth to tie the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a Big Ten game in the last 40 seasons by outscoring Michigan State 27-3 in the fourth quarter.

Smith also helped coach the Fighting Illini to one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history with a 24-23 victory over No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 19, 2019. Illinois entered the day as a 30-point underdog before Jake McCourt’s 39-yard field goal as time expired sent Illini fans rushing to the Memorial Stadium field in one of the greatest Homecoming scenes in University of Illinois history. The Wisconsin victory sprung Illinois to four straight Big Ten wins, the first four-game Big Ten winning streak for the Fighting Illini since the 2001 Big Ten Championship team finished the regular season with seven straight conference victories. Illinois finished the 2019 regular season 6-6 and 4-5 in the Big Ten.

Smith led the 2019 linebackers room to be one of the most productive in the Big Ten. Jake Hansen led the nation in forced fumbles with seven and was named a Butkus Award semifinalist, while Dele Harding led the Big Ten in tackles and finished second in the nation. 

Smith spent two years as a defensive quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 and 2015. He graduated from Lake Forest College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in history. 

Smith is the youngest son of Illinois head coach Lovie Smith. He is married to Kara Smith.

Miles Smith Coaching History

Smith File

Hometown: Lake Forest, Ill.
Education: Lake Forest College ’13 (history)
Wife: Kara Smith