THE OFFICIAL HOME OF McNEESE ATHLETICS

Dennis Smith, an energetic young coach who brings strong ties to talent-rich South Florida, is in his second season with the Cowboys and serves as the team’s running backs coach as well as special teams coordinator.

In 2016, the Cowboys scored 18 of the team’s 41 offensive touchdowns in the running game with three players - Ryan Ross, Justin Pratt and Dylan Long - each rushing for five.

The running back corps also hauled in 62 passes on the season and scored four touchdowns off of catches.

In the special team’s area, Smith had to break in a new starting place kicker and starting punter. Kickers Gunnar Raborn and Trent Manuel combined to make 12 of 16 field goals and 40 of 44 PATs while true freshman punter Michael Mack averaged 38 yards per punt and had 19 downed inside the 20-yard line.

Senior returner Khalil Thomas earned first team All-Southland Conference honors after he averaged 27.8 yards per return and had one returned 97 yards for a touchdown.

Prior to joining the McNeese staff in 2016, he spent the 2015 season at Florida A&M working with the tight ends and directed the FAMU special teams unit.

Before FAMU, he worked two seasons as wide receivers and special teams coach at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi where his receiving group ranked second among Mississippi junior colleges in total receptions with 227.

A 2005 graduate of the University of Miami, he worked as assistant director of football operations at The U in 2006 before spending six seasons at Florida International, serving in various roles including assistant director of football operations (2007); graduate assistant coach for offense (2008-10); director of player personnel and quality control (2011); and recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach (2012), helping FIU bring in the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference in 2011 and 2012.

Smith, who is single and living in Lake Charles, recruits the New Orleans area and Florida.