Mike Smith signed as the 14th head coach in Atlanta Falcons history on Jan. 23, 2008.
Smith guided the Falcons to the second-most wins in a season in team history, the top record in the NFC with a 13-3 mark and an NFC South Division crown in 2010. The 13 victories also secured the number one seed in the Conference for only the second time in franchise history and the Division title was just the fourth ever for the team in 45 years in the league (and first since 2004).
Smith earned the prestigious Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year and the KC 101 Club s NFC Coach of the Year award for a remarkable second time in three seasons.
In Smith's first year, the Falcons were one of the NFL's biggest surprises, notching 11 wins after earning just four the previous year. The Falcons' 13 wins in the regular season in 2010 was the team's highest mark since its 1998 Super Bowl season.
From 2003 2007, Smith served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and led a defensive unit which ranked fourth in overall defense (296.6), third in offensive points allowed (16.1) and fifth in rushing defense (99.3). The Jaguars defense also contributed to a team-record 20 interceptions and allowed an NFL-low 11 points per game on their home turf. In 2002, Smith served as the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens and before joining the NFL ranks, he spent 12 seasons at Tennessee Tech from 1987 1998.
Smith became a coach at 18, instructing linebackers while he was still in high school. He played college football at East Tennessee(1977 1981) and was named defensive MVP twice at his position. He led the team with 186 tackles as a senior, becoming the all-time single-season tackle leader. Smith then forged his way up the coaching ladder with stints at San Diego State (1982-85), Morehead State (1986) and Tennessee Tech (1987-1998) before making the jump to the NFL.
A native of Daytona Beach, Fla., Smith was born on June 13, 1959 in Chicago, Ill.
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