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Well known in college coaching circles, Kenith Pope begins his second stint coaching in the Southeastern Conference. He will coach the Crimson Tide receivers.

A veteran of 22 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, Pope's ride through the coaching ranks began at Beaumont (Texas) Herbert High School in 1977 where he coached for two seasons.

From 1979-80 he coached linebackers and the kicking game at Lamar University before moving to Southern Methodist University where he spent the next six seasons coaching the Mustangs' wide receivers. The Mustangs won Southwest Conference championships in 1981, 1982 and were co-champs in 1984 and attended consecutive bowl games in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

Pope then moved to Oklahoma State where he coached defensive ends from 1987-90 and in 1991 joined Jackie Sherrill and the Mississippi State staff. He remained, coaching the linebackers, with the Bulldogs through 1994 before moving to Oklahoma where he coached the defensive ends.

In 1998, he joined Dennis Franchione at TCU where he tutored the receivers.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Pope was a star defensive back for Oklahoma from 1971-73. Following a 17-14 win over Nebraska in his junior season, Pope earned National Defensive Back of the Week honors. During his player career at Oklahoma, the Sooners went 29-5-1 and won back-to-back Sugar Bowls. His senior season, Oklahoma went 10-0-1, won the Big Eight championship and Pope played in the Blue-Gray Classic and the American Bowl. He then played one season in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

Pope is married to the former Pam Armstrong of Beaumont, Texas. They have a godson, Jordan Awadalla and two goddaughters, Geneva (Ronni) Lathan and Shaina Hall.

THE POPE FILE Born: December 28, 1951 Education 1976 Special Education, Oklahoma Playing Experience 1971-73 Oklahoma 1974 New England Patriots Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Receivers 1998-00 TCU, Receivers 1995-97 Oklahoma, Defensive Ends 1991-94 Mississippi State, Linebackers 1987-90 Oklahoma State, Defensive Ends 1981-86 SMU, Receivers 1990-80 Lamar, Linebackers/Kicking Game 1977-78 Beaumont (Texas) High School Bowl Participation As a player: 1972 Sugar; 1972 Sugar As a coach: 1983 Cotton; 1983 Sun; 1984 Aloha; 1991 Liberty; 1993 Peach; 1995 Peach; 1999 Mobile Alabama; 2000 Mobile Alabama

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Not a complete stranger to Alabama or SEC football, Les Koenning, Jr., has served as a graduate assistant at Alabama and as quarterback coach at Mississippi State during his 20 years in the coaching profession.

The Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, Koenning's father, Les Koenning, Sr., is the long-time head coach at Cypress Creek High School in Houston.

A 1981 graduate of Texas, Koenning starred as a wide receiver for the Longhorns from 1977-80. He played on teams that went to bowl games each season and served as a team captain his senior season. As a prep star, Koenning earned All-Greater Houston honors as a senior at Memorial High School.

Koenning began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Longhorns and then at Alabama under Ray Perkins.

In 1985, he served as wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator at Southwestern Louisiana before moving to Mississippi State where coached the quarterbacks and wide receivers from 1986-89.

From 1990-93 he coached the wide receivers at Rice and then moved to Duke in 1994. He then spent the 1995-96 seasons coaching wide receivers at Texas A&M before joining Jimmy Johnson and the Miami Dolphins as an offensive assistant.

He moved back to Duke for the 1998 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

In 1999 he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Houston last season joining Dennis Franchione at TCU as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Koenning and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Lanna (14) and Les (17).

THE KOENNING, JR., FILE Born: February 10, 1959 Education 1981 Health and Physical Education,Texas 1983 Master's in Sports Management, Texas Playing Experience 1977-80 Texas Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2000 TCU, Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks 1999 Houston, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 1998 Duke, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 1997 Miami Dolphins, Offensive Assistant 1995-96 Texas A&M, Wide Receivers 1994 Duke, Wide Receivers 1990-93 Rice, Wide Receivers 1986-89 Mississippi State, Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers 1985 Southwestern Louisiana, Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator 1984 Alabama, Graduate Assistant 1981-83 Texas, Graduate Assistant Bowl Participation As a player: 1978 Cotton; 1978 Sun; 1979 Sun; 1980 Bluebonnet As a coach: 1982 Cotton; 1982 Sun; 1984 Cotton; 1995 Alamo

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Carl Torbush, the Tide's defensive coordinator and linebacker coach, brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Crimson Tide. He has twice been a head coach, Louisiana Tech (1987) and North Carolina (1998-2000).

Torbush, who compiled a 17-18 record at North Carolina in three seasons as head coach, served as defensive coordinator with the Tar Heels from 1988 through 1997. Throughout his stint as a coordinator, Torbush's unit was known for its stingy defense. From 1992-97, Torbush consistently lowered the Tar Heel's total defense numbers, from 326.5 yards a game in 1992 to a mere 209.3 yards per game in 1997. His 1995, 1996 and 1997 defense led the Atlantic Coast Conference in total defense and was among the top-five in the nation in every defensive category in 1996 and 1997. Following the 1996 season, he was named National Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Quarterly.

In his 12 years as defensive coordinator at UNC, the Tar Heels had six defensive players earn All-America honors and 41 All-ACC selections, including 18 first-team selections. In 1997, Torbush was a finalist for the Frank Broyles National Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

Torbush has had coaching stops at Baylor (1975); Southeast Louisiana (1976-79); Louisiana Tech (1980-82 and 1987 as head coach); defensive coordinator at Ole Miss (1983-1986) and North Carolina (1988-97 as defensive coordinator, 1998-2000 as head coach). In 1986, his Ole Miss team led the SEC in total defense.

During his stay at Southeast Louisiana, he also was the head baseball coach and was named Gulf South Conference Baseball Coach of the Year in 1978. Torbush played one season of pro baseball, in 1975 with the Kansas City Royals organization.

He is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee and a 1974 graduate of Carson-Newman where he earned NAIA First Team All-America honors in football and baseball. He was later inducted into the Carson-Newman College Sports Hall of Fame and the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.

Torbush and his wife, the former Janet Gilbert, have one son, Trey.

THE TORBUSH FILE Born: Oct. 11, 1951 Education 1974 Physical Education, Carson-Newman 1976 Master's in Physical Education and Health, Baylor Playing Experience 1972-74 Carson Newman Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 1998-00 Head Coach, North Carolina 1988-97 North Carolina, Defensive Coordiantor/Linebackers 1987 Louisiana Tech, Head Coach 1983-86 Ole Miss, Defensive Coordiantor/Linebackers 1980-82 Louisiana Tech, Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers 1976-79 Southeast Louisiana, Linebackers/Defensive Ends 1975 Baylor, Graduate Assistant 1974 Carter High School (Knoxville, Tennessee) Bowl Participation As a coach: 1983 Independence, 1986 Independence, 1993 Preach, 1993 Gator, 1994 Sun,1995 Carquest, 1997 Gator, 1998 Gator, 1998 Las Vegas

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The offensive line coach for the Crimson Tide, Jim Bob Helduser brings to the Capstone 19 years of coaching experience as an assistant and head football coach.

Helduser has served with head coach Dennis Franchione at Southwest Texas State, TCU and now Alabama and will coach the Tide's offensive line.

During his tenure at TCU, Helduser coached four offensive linemen to All Western Athletic Conference honors, including David Bobo, Mike Keathley and Jeff Millican in 2000. For three straight seasons, his offensive line paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher. In each of the past two seasons, a TCU runner led the NCAA in rushing.

A native of Groves, Texas, Helduser began his coaching career at Rice where he coached defensive ends, receivers and tight ends from 1979-84. Following a stint at Alief Elsik High School from 1984-85, Helduser spent the next 11 seasons as assistant coach and head coach at Southwest Texas State. For two seasons, 1990-91, he served as an assistant for Dennis Franchione. During his time at Southwest Texas State, he coached just about every position before taking over the head coaching duties in 1991 when Franchione took the head coaching reigns at New Mexico.

Helduser has also spent time in the high school ranks, as an offensive coordinator at Alief Elsik High School in 1984-85 and as a head coach at Austin Lake Travis High School in 1997.

He was a three-sport standout at Port Neches-Groves High School near Houston. As a linebacker for Jim Wacker at Texas Lutheran, he played on a squad that captured the 1975 NAIA national championship. He received his B.S. degree in Biology in 1979 and then earned his Master's degree in Education Administration from Southwast Texas in 1989.

Helduser and his wife, Janet, have three children, Brant 18, Kylene 12 and Jenna 7.

THE HELDUSER FILE Born: February 27, 1957 Education 1979 Biology, Texas Lutheran 1989 Master's Degree in Education Administration, Southwest Texas Playing Experience 1975-78 Texas Lutheran Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Offensive Line 1998-00 TCU,Offensive Line 1997 Lake Travis High School (Austin, Texas), Head Coach 1992-96 Southwest Texas State, Head Coach 1986-91 Southwest Texas State, Quarterbacks, Receivers, Offensive Line 1984-85 Alief Elsik High School, Offensive Coordinator 1979-84 Rice, Defensive Ends/Receivers/Tight Ends Bowl Participation As a coach: 1988 Sun; 1999 Mobile Alabama; 2000 Mobile Alabama

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One of the seven coaches to accompany coach Dennis Franchione to Alabama from TCU, Eggen (EGG-un) will tutor the Crimson Tide's defensive line.

A veteran of 22 years in collegiate coaching, Eggen helped tutor a TCU defense that finished the 2000 season ranked first in scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 245.0 yards per game. Defensively, the Horned Frogs accounted for a school-record 43 sacks for 255 yards.

While coaching the defensive line at TC U, Eggen coached defensive end Aaron Schobel to back-to-back All-WAC honors and the 2000 WAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Schobel closed his collegiate career with 31 career sacks.

After getting 30 sacks from his defensive line in 1999, Eggen's troops had 27.5 in 2000.

Prior to his stint at TCU, Eggen spent one season with Franchione at New Mexico, also coaching the defensive line.

Eggen had two stops at UNLV, as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach from 1994-96 and from 1991-92 as defensive ends/linebacker coach. The Rebels won the Big West Conference title in 1994 after his defense turned in 41 quarterback sacks and scored four defensive touchdowns. He was at Nevada in 1993 as inside linebacker coach.

From 1986-90, Eggen served as recruiting coordinator/linebacker coach at Utah State and during that time, three players he recruited or coached earned Big West Defensive Player of the Year honors.

He also had stints at Drake (1984-85), Memphis (1982-83), Southeast Missouri State (1981) and North Dakota (1979-80).

A 1977 graduate of Moohead State, Eggen earned a bachelor degree in Education. He was a two-year captain at free safety. Eggen completed his master's degree in education from the University of North Dakota in 1981.

Eggen and his wife, Tina, have three daughters, Sloane 12, Paige 9 and Shelby 7.

THE EGGEN FILE Born: February 25, 1955 Education 1977 Education, Moorhead State 1981 Master's Degree in Education, North Dakota Playing Experience 1974-76 Moorhead (Minnesota) State Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Defensive Line 1998-00 TCU, Defensive Line 1997 New Mexico, Defensive line 1994-96 UNLV, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 1993 Nevada, Linebackers 1991-92 UNLV, Defensive Ends/Linebackers 1986-90 Utah State, Recruiting/Linebackers 1984-85 Drake, Linebackers 1982-83 Memphis, Linebackers 1981 Southeast Missouri State, Linebackers 1979-80 North Dakota, Defensive Backs Bowl Participation As a coach: 1997 Insight.com; 1998 Sun; 1999 Mobile Alabama; 2000 Mobile Alabama

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Chris Thurmond has spent 26 years in the coaching profession and the last 18 coaching in the collegiate ranks. He will tutor the Tide's cornerbacks in 2001.

After coaching in the high school ranks for eight years, Thurmond joined his alma mater, Tulsa, in 1983 to coach the secondary. He spent nine years with the Golden Hurricane and before he left, his defensive players had established school records for single game, single season and career interceptions. Tulsa all-stars Nate Harris and Tim Gordon were two of his more outstanding players. In 1991, he help Tulsa to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Freedom Bowl. His defensive unit finished the season ranked eighth nationally in pass efficiency defense.

He left for East Carolina where he spent two seasons, 1992-93, as defensive coordinator and secondary coach. In 1994, he moved back to Tusla to coach the secondary and in 1995 was on to TCU, also coaching the secondary.

Thurmond then spent 1996 and 1997 coaching the secondary at Oklahoma and returned to TCU in 1998 when Dennis Franchione took the head coaching job with the Horned Frogs. The Frogs led the nation in scoring defense, total defense and were third in pass defense in 2000.

Thurmond began his coaching career at McAlester High School in 1975 and two years later, moved to Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Okla., where he was secondary coach for three seasons. In 1980, he moved to Claremore High where he was defensive coordinator and then in 1981 returned to Sand Springs and Page High School to serve as head coach from 1981-82.

Thurmond was a prep standout in football and golf. He graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1975 with a degree in Education.

He is married to the former Paula Newell and they have one daughter, Paige.

THE THURMOND FILE Born: February 25, 1953 Education 1975 Education, Tulsa Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Cornerbacks 1998-00 TCU, Cornerbacks 1996-97 Oklahoma, Secondary 1995 TCU, Secondary 1994 Tulsa, Secondary 1992-93 East Carolina, Defensive Coordinator 1983-91 Tulsa, Secondary 1981-82 Page High School (Sand Springs, Okla.), Head Coach 1980 Claremore (Okla.) High School 1977-79 Page High School (Sand Springs, Okla.) 1975-76 McAlester (Okla.) High School Bowl Participation As a coach: 1989 Independence; 1991 Freedom; 1998 Sun; 1999 Mobile Alabama; 2000 Mobile Alabama

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MARK TOMMERDAHL, Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
First Year at Alabama (Jan. 2, 2001)

Mark Tommerdahl (TOM-er-dawl) will coach the Tide's tight ends and the ever-important special teams for the Crimson Tide. Tommerdahl is a veteran of 17 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, having spent 11 of those years at Wyoming.

He moved to TCU when Dennis Franchione got that job in 1998 and it was their emphasis on special teams that help forge much of the Horned Frogs' success.

In 1999 and 2000, TCU led the nation in kickoff returns. The Horned Frogs led the WAC in three of the four major special teams categories both seasons. Placekicker Chris Kaylakie was named to the All-WAC unit in 1999 and 2000. Last season, Kaylakie scored 98 points on 16-of-18 field goals and 50 of 51 extra points.

Tommerdahl began his coaching career at Wyoming as a graduate assistant from 1984-85. He then spent the next nine seasons with the Cowboys, participating in two Holiday Bowl and two Copper Bowl games while working for Paul Roach and Joe Tiller.

From 1995-96, he coached at Minnesota as recruiting coordinator, tight ends and special teams coach.

He then moved to New Mexico in 1997 with coach Franchione where he helped the Lobos to a 9-4 record, a first place spot in the WAC and a berth in the Insight.com bowl.

The following season, he moved with Franchione to TCU where he coached the tight ends and special teams.

A native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Tommerdahl received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Physical Education in 1983 from Concordia College. He played football for Concordia and won the 1981 NAIA national championship.

Tommerdahl is an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his wife, Annette, has a Ph.D. in educational counseling with an emphasis in university administration. She serves as the Director of Student Affairs at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center.

THE TOMMERDAHL FILE Born: February 20, 1961 Education 1983 Business Administration, Concordia College, 1985 Master's in Business Administration, Wyoming Playing Experience 1979-82 Concordia College Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Tight Ends/Special Teams 1998-00 TCU, Tight Ends/Special Teams 1997 New Mexico, Tight Ends/Special Teams 1995-96 Minnesota, Tight Ends/Special Teams/Recruiting Coordinator 1991-94 Wyoming, Offensive Backfield 1990 Wyoming, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends 1987-89 Wyoming, Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator 1986 Wyoming, Recruiting Coordinator 1984-85 Wyoming, Graduate Assistant Bowl Participation As a coach: 19987 Holiday; 1988 Holiday; 1990 Copper; 1993 Copper

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LEE FOBBS (Runningbacks)
First Year at Alabama (Feb. 10, 2001)

Lee Fobbs joins the Tide program following four years at Baylor where he coached the Bears' defensive tackles. Fobbs joined the Baylor program for the 1997 season, taking the position of running backs coach for two seasons. When Kevin Steele became Baylor's coach following to the 1998 campaign, Fobbs moved to the defensive side of the ball.

Fobbs, 50, coached outside linebackers at Minnesota in 1996 prior to coming to Baylor. He spent the 1995 season at Southern Mississippi, where he worked primarily with offensive tackles and tight ends. Prior to that, he coached defensive ends at LSU in 1994, wide receivers at Tulane from 1991-93 and the defensive line at Louisiana-Monroe from 1989-90.

Fobbs joined the college coaching ranks after a highly successful stint as a high school coach. From 1985-88, he was the head football coach and athletic director at Carroll High School in Monroe, La. In 1987, his squad reached the state semifinals. The following year his team went to the state quarterfinals. From 1975-84 he was the offensive coordinator at Wossman High School in Monroe, La., where he also served at head track coach.

Fobbs graduated from Grambling State University in 1973 with a health and physical education degree. He earned all-SWAC and all-America honors as a senior for legendary coach Eddie Robinson.

An eighth-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills, Fobbs played professionally for the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Rough Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played for the Detroit Wheels and Birmingham Stallions in the United States Football League.

After his pro career, Fobbs went back to Grambling, where he was a graduate assistant under Robinson in 1975. He earned a master's degree in sports administration at Grambling in 1976.

Fobbs and his wife, Shelia, have three children: Broderick, 26, Jamaal, 23 (a running back at Oklahoma State), and Chelsea, 9.

THE FOBBS FILE Born: July 20, 1950 Education 1973 Health and Physical Education, Grambling 1976 Master's in Sports Administration, Grambling Playing Experience 1968-72 Grambling 1973 Ottawa (CFL) 1974 Winnipeg (CFL) 1975 Detroit (USFL) 1975 Birmingham (USFL) Coaching Experience 2001 Alabama, Runningbacks 1997-00 Baylor, Defensive Tackles/Runningbacks 1996 Minnesota, Outside Linebackers 1995 Southern Miss, Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends 1994 LSU, Defensive Ends 1991-93 Tulane, Wide Receivers 1989-90 Louisiana-Monroe, Defensive Line 1985-88 Carroll High School (Monroe, LA), Head Coach/AD 1975-84 Wossman High School (Monroe, LA), Offensive Coordinator 1975 Grambling, Graduate Assistant

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Ben Pollard will coordinate the strength and conditioning program for the Crimson Tide athletic department, with particular emphasis on football. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has also been certified by the United States Weightlifting Federation.

Pollard was recently chosen as one of 14 nominees for the 2001 National Strength and Conditioning Association's College Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year Award.

He joins the Tide program following a three-year stint at TCU, where he worked with Dennis Franchione. During his tenure with the Horned Frogs, Pollard had auspices over the entire 20-sport TCU program.

A native of Lubbock, Texas, Pollard began his career at Texas Tech working for current Dallas Cowboys strength coach Joe Jurazek. He then had a 10-year stint at Sam Houston State where he also served as an instructor in the school's kinesiology department.

A letterman in football and baseball at Lubock coronado High School, Pollard is married to the former Leslie Willis of Houston. The couple has two sons, Harrison and Everett and a daughter, Melissa.

THE POLLARD FILE Born: June 17, 1961 Education 1984 Family Relations, Texas Tech 1989 Master's in Education, Texas Tech Coaching Experience 2001 Alabama, Head Strength and Conditioning 1998-00 TCU, Head Football Strength Coach 1989-97 Sam Houston State, Head Strength Coach 1988-89 Texas Tech, Graduate Assistant Strength Coach Bowl Participation As a coach: 1991 NCAA Divison 1-AA National Playoffs; 1998 Sun; 1999 Mobile Alabama; 2000 Mobile Alabama

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Venerable Charley North, now in his 34th season in the coaching profession, is the Tide's Director of Football Operations. In that capacity, his duties include a broad range of responsibilities, but primarily coordinating the Tide's on-campus recruiting efforts. He will also oversee office management and administration, game-day responsibilities, liaison with athletic and university departments and team travel. In between, he handles any other crisis that may erupt.

North has spent his life in the coaching profession, including 12 years in the high school ranks in Oklahoma and then 16 years at the University of Oklahoma and then three years at Arkansas. He posted a 64-12 overall record as a high school head coach.

Following a playing career at Panhandle (Oklahoma) State, North worked at Wagoner High School (1967-78) and then McAlester High (1969-71) before taking over the head coaching duties at Tecumseh (Oklahoma) High School in 1972. He left in 1976 to become head coach at McAlester High and then moved to the University of Oklahoma in 1979 as offensive line coach.

During his stay in Oklahoma, the Sooners played in 12 bowl games, including six Orange Bowls. During his tenure at Oklahoma, the Sooners posted a 139-46-4 overall record, won a national championship in 1985 and has just one losing season. Oklahoma won 10 games or more five times during that period.

North was a football and baseball all-state selection at Wagoner (Oklahoma) High School and then was twice selected all-conference as a center at Panhandle State where he played collegiately from 1964-66. He earned his B.S. degree in education in 1966 and then his Master's in education/administration from East Central Okalhoma State in 1971.

North and his wife, the former Sharon Hamilton, have a daughter, Charla Kay Uhles, son-in-law Rob and one grandson, Zac, age seven.

THE NORTH FILE Born: August 15, 1944 Education 1966 Education, Panhandle (Oklahoma) State 1971 Master's in Education/Administration, East Central Oklahoma State Playing Experience 1964-66 Panhandle State Coaching Experience 2001- Alabama, Director of Football Operations 1998-00 TCU, Director of Football Operations 1995-97 Arkansas, Offensive Line 1979-94 Oklahoma 1976-78 McAlester (Okla.) High School, Head Coach 1972-75 Tecumseh (Okla.) High School, Head Coach 1969-71 McAlester (Okla.) High School 1967-68 Wagoner (Okla.) High School Bowl Participation As a coach: 1980 Orange, 1981 Orange,1981 Sun, 1983 Fiesta, 1985 Orange, 1986 Orange,1987 Orange, 1988 Orange, 1989 Citrus, 1991 Gator, 1993 Sun, 1994 Copper, 1995 Carquest, 1998 Sun, 1999 Mobile, 2000 Mobile

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"We are excited about the addition of Melvin to our coaching staff," Franchione said. "He will be a great asset to our staff not only as a coach, but as a person as well."

Smith is expected to be on campus Tuesday.

"To me, it is a great professional move," Smith said. "I look forward to working with a really outstanding coordinator in Carl Torbush and to be a part of what coach Franchione is doing. I've studied coach Franchione since he was at Southwest Texas State and I am honored to be a part of his program."

THE SMITH FAMILY: (front, l to r) Melvin and Ashlee; (back, l to r) Sheilah and Melvin. (not pictured: daughter Deondra and son Robert)

Smith joins the Tide after seven years as wide receivers and defensive backs coach at Mississippi State. He coached the Bulldogs' wide receivers in 1995 and the defensive backs from 1996-01.

Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Smith coached tight ends and wide receivers at Ole Miss from 1992-94. He spent two seasons (1990-91) at Delta State and began his coaching career at Greenwood (Mississippi) High School in 1982.

Smith is a 1982 graduate of Millsaps and earned his Master's Degree from Delta State in 1992.

As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve's 173rd Quartermaster Company, Sgt. Smith was called to duty in October, 1990 and then served more than six months in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War.

He is married to the former Sheilah McLemore and the couple has two daughters, Deondra and Ashelee and two sons, Robert and Melvin. Smith was born February 1, 1958, and is a native of Magee, Mississippi.

Coaching history

• 1982-89: Coach, Greenwood [MS] HS
• 1990: Defensive Backs Coach, Delta State University
• 1991: Defensive Coordinator, Delta State University
• 1992-93: Tight Ends Coach, University of Mississippi
• 1994: Wide Receivers Coach, University of Mississippi
• 1995: Wide Receivers Coach, Mississippi State University
• 1996-2001: Defensive Backs Coach, Mississippi State University
• 2002-present: Safeties, University of Alabama

Playing history

• Played two seasons (1980-81) at Millsaps College
• Named team's most outstanding lineman as a split end

Smith's 2001 MSU press guide bio:

Now in his sixth season since moving back to the defensive side of the ball, and seventh year at MSU overall, Smith's work with the Bulldog defensive backfield has resulted in stellar play as a group and national plaudits for his pupils.

In 2000, cornerback Fred Smoot was selected in the second round by the Washington Redskins in the National Football League draft following an all-America senior season at State, and two other graduated seniors signed professional football contracts. Smoot and his mates intercepted 19 passes last fall, the second-most in school history.

One year earlier, his secondary led the Southeastern Conference in pass defense and finished the season ranked fourth nationally in that department.

Smith's troops accounted for 14 of the squad's 16 interceptions in 1998 and were the last NCAA Division I unit to allow a touchdown score through the air (Auburn, Week 5).

The Bulldogs' receivers coach in 1995, Smith was moved to the secondary in 1996 under coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. It was a reunion of sorts, since Smith had previously spent two seasons as a fellow coach with Dunn at the University of Mississippi.

In 1995, Smith coached Eric Moulds, who established MSU records for career touchdown receptions and single-game catches, and was a No. 1 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills.

Smith came to MSU from the University of Mississippi, where he served as both tight ends and then wide receivers coach during a three-year tenure. Smith has played or coached in Mississippi for more than 20 years, 13 on the collegiate level.

With that background, he has developed the reputation as one of the top recruiters in Mississippi. Immediately prior to joining the Rebel staff, Smith served two years as an assistant coach at Delta (Miss.) State University.

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