Jonathan Smith is a college football coach from the United States who is currently leading the team at Michigan State University. Before this, he held the position of head coach at his old school, Oregon State University, for six years.
During his time as a college athlete, he played as a quarterback for four years for the Beavers, under the guidance of coaches Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson.
Early Life
Jonathan Smith was born in Pasadena, California. He graduated from Glendora High School in east Los Angeles County, in 1997. He then headed to Oregon State to pursue college football, starting as a walk-on for head coach Mike Riley.
Smith began his stint as starting quarterback for the Beavers in 1998 during his redshirt freshman year and retained the position until his senior year in 2001. During his junior year in 2000, under coach Dennis Erickson, he guided the Beavers to their most successful season ever.
The Beavers had an outstanding season, achieving a school record of 11 wins and sharing their first conference title in 36 years. They also ended the year ranked fourth in the nation.
Notable players on their team, such as Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, went on to play in the NFL. Additionally, Smith was recognized as the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl.
Jonathan Smith’s Coaching Career
In 2002 and 2003, Jonathan Smith served as a graduate assistant at his former school with Erickson and Riley. Following this, he worked as the quarterbacks coach for six years (2004-2009) at the University of Idaho.
He served under three different head coaches: Nick Holt, Erickson, and Robb Akey. He then spent two years as the offensive coordinator at the University of Montana.
For two years, Smith served as the quarterbacks coach at Boise State University while working under Chris Petersen. He later followed Petersen to the University of Washington where he remained for four years.
In 2017, Smith was appointed as the head coach of Oregon State. He assumed control of his former university during a difficult time, as Gary Andersen had resigned on October 9, only six games into his third season. Before Smith’s arrival, Oregon State had a record of 12-36 (.250) in the previous four seasons.
In 2021, Jonathan Smith achieved a significant milestone by achieving a 7-6 winning record and earning a spot in the LA Bowl after four seasons. The team continued to make progress in 2022, securing their third ten-win season in school history with a dominant 30-3 victory against Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl.
In 2017, Smith signed a contract for five years, earning $1.9 million per year. This contract would automatically extend by one year after each season where the team won six games.
On January 7, 2020, Smith was given a three-year extension until the 2025 season. However, after his first winning season in 2021, his contract was revised to keep him on the team until 2027 and increase his salary to $3.25 million starting in 2022.
Following a memorable 2022 season for the team, which included a victory against their rival Oregon, Smith was granted a new contract with a substantial raise. This six-year agreement boosted his earnings to $4.85 million starting in 2023.
According to reports, Jonathan Smith’s updated deal ranked him as the fifth highest-paid coach in the Pac-12, surpassing his fellow in-state coach Dan Lanning.
On November 25, 2023, Smith was officially appointed as the head coach for Michigan State. The role had been unoccupied since late September, following the dismissal of Mel Tucker.
Personal Life
Jonathan Smith is married to Candice Huddle. They got married in 2002 and have three children named Robert, Bella, and Charles. According to reports, Candice plays a significant role as her husband’s trusted confidant. She was among the select few whom he consulted when deciding to join Oregon State and later Michigan State.
Contract & Salary
Jonathan Smith’s exit from Oregon State, despite having six years left on his contract, brought up concerns about the financial aspects of his transition to Michigan State.
The agreement, worth $31.2 million until 2029, involves a significant $3 million buyout. As reported by College Football Network, Smith’s yearly salary was $4.85 million in 2023, with an annual raise of $100,000.
