Bob Smith (American football coach)

Bob Smith
Biographical details
Born (1940-04-22) April 22, 1940 (age 84)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1973–1977Manual HS (IL)
1978–1983Illinois (assistant)
1984–1987Southeast Missouri State
1988Illinois (assistant)
1989–1993Southern Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall34–64–1 (football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 MIAA (1987)
Records
MIAA Coach of the Year (1987)

Bob Smith (born April 22, 1940) is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Southeast Missouri State University from 1984 to 1987 and Southern Illinois University Carbondale from 1989 to 1993, compiling a career college football coaching record of 34–64–1.

Smith was the head football coach at Manual High School in Peoria, Illinois from 1973 to 1977.[1] In 1978, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and was put in charge of the receivers under head coach Gary Moeller. He remained on the Illinois staff when Mike White took over the program in 1980. By 1983, Smith was coaching the offensive linemen and helped guide the 1983 Illinois Fighting Illini football team to a Big Ten Conference title and an appearance in the 1984 Rose Bowl.[2]

Smith led the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks to a record of 17–26–1 in four seasons. His 1987 squad shared the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title and Smith was named the conference's coach of the year. In early 1988, he resigned to return to Illinois and join the staff of John Mackovic, who had been hired to succeed White as head coach.[3]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Southeast Missouri State Indians (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1984–1987)
1984 Southeast Missouri State 1–10 1–4 5th
1985 Southeast Missouri State 4–7 2–3 T–3rd
1986 Southeast Missouri State 6–5 4–1 2nd
1987 Southeast Missouri State 6–4–1 4–0–1 T–1st
Southeast Missouri State: 17–26–1 11–8–1
Southern Illinois Salukis (Gateway Football Conference) (1989–1993)
1989 Southern Illinois 2–9 1–5 T–6th
1990 Southern Illinois 2–9 1–5 T–6th
1991 Southern Illinois 7–4 4–2 T–2nd
1992 Southern Illinois 4–7 2–4 T–4th
1993 Southern Illinois 2–9 1–5 7th
Southern Illinois: 17–38 9–21
Total: 34–64–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Illinois Grid staff add Smith, Carr". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. Associated Press. December 27, 1977. p. 14. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "SE Missouri named coach". Journal Gazette. Mattoon, Illinois. United Press International. December 9, 1983. p. 15. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "SEMO Football Coach Resigns, Joining Illini". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. February 13, 1988. p. 30. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.