Carl Smith Position: Quarterbacks

Carl Smith, who has 32 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience, is in his first year at USC. He joined the Trojan staff in February of 2004 and works with the quarterbacks.

He came to USC after spending the past 3 seasons (2001-03) as the quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1971 and Colorado in 1972 (CU played in the Gator Bowl). He became the Buffaloes' linebackers coach in 1973 before moving to Southwestern Louisiana, where he handled the defensive line (1974) and defensive backs (1975-76) and was offensive coordinator (1977-78).

He then spent 3 years (1979-81) as the offensive coordinator at Lamar (he also served as the offensive line coach there in 1981) and the 1982 season as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina State before moving to the pros.

Smith, 56, was with the USFL's Philadelphia (later Baltimore) Stars for 3 seasons (1983-85), handling the special teams the first year and the quarterbacks and wide receivers the next 2 years when the team captured USFL titles.

He spent the next 11 seasons (1986-96) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the New Orleans Saints before going to the New England Patriots for 3 seasons (1997-99), the first as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach and the next 2 as the tight ends coach. His teams advanced into the playoffs 7 times, as the Saints did so 4 times (1987-90-91-92 while winning the NFC West title in 1991), the Patriots did so in 1997 (after winning the AFC East crown) and 1998, and the Browns did it in 2002. He wrote for NFL.com in 2000.

He was a 2-year (1969-70) letterman defensive back at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after transferring from Bakersfield (Calif.) Junior College, where he played quarterback in 1966 and 1967. He earned his bachelor's (1971) and master's (1972) degrees in physical education from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, as well as a teaching credential.

He prepped at Wasco (Calif.) High, where he starred in football, basketball and baseball.

Born April 26, 1948, he and his wife, Dianne, have 3 sons: Tracy, 21, Tyler, 18, and Nicholas, 13.

SMITH SNAPSHOT

BIRTHDAY: April 26, 1948
FAMILY: Wife, Dianne; Sons, Tracy, 21, Tyler, 18, and Nicholas, 13.
HIGH SCHOOL: Wasco (Calif.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, physical education, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1971; Master's degree, physical education, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1972
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Wasco (Calif.) HS; Bakersfield (Calif.) Junior College, quarterback, 1966-67; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, defensive back, 1969-70
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 32 years