Chris Smith - Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Chris Smith

Title:
Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
Phone:
540-568-6517
Physical Address:
Plecker APC 224 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201

Chris Smith is in his second season with the James Madison football program in 2025, as he serves as the offensive line coach and offensive run game coordinator.

In his first season in Harrisonburg, he was part of an offense that ranked top 30 nationally in seven categories, which included leading the country in fewest interceptions (4) and ranking third in fewest turnovers (9). JMU was also 23rd in time of possession (31:48), 24th in fewest fumbles lost (5), 26th in scoring offense (33.3), 28th in rushing offense (191.5) and 30th in pass efficiency (144.60). JMU also led the Sun Belt in fewest interceptions thrown, fewest turnovers and time of possession while ranking second in passing scores (28) and third in scoring.

Smith coached a pair of Dukes to First Team All-Sun Belt and First Team All-State honors in right tackle Pat McMurtrie and right guard Cole Potts. That included McMurtrie being the league’s top-rated tackle after not allowing a single sack all season.

Smith joined the Dukes after spending the 2023 season as assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants.

Prior to his year-long stint in the NFL, Smith coached under Bob Chesney at Holy Cross, serving as offensive line coach and later offensive coordinator in his final season in 2022.

During his time with the Crusaders (2017-22), he helped the program to four straight Patriot League championships and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths.

Smith helped lift the Holy Cross offense to new heights while leading the offense in 2022, as the Crusaders set a program record for wins (12) and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders ranked first in the nation in fewest turnovers (6), fumbling just once. Holy Cross additionally ranked second in FCS in yards per completion (16.2), sixth in rushing offense (245.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game). HC produced its first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season while a program-record 12 players were named All-Patriot League on the offensive side of the ball.

While guiding the Crusader offensive line, Holy Cross was widely respected as having one of the top offensive lines in all of FCS, which included all five linemen earning All-PL honors in 2022, which included Luke Newman and Nick Olsofka being named All-Americans.

In the spring 2021 season, delayed from the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19, Holy Cross defeated Bucknell in the first-ever Patriot League championship game. The 2019 season saw the Crusaders capture their first Patriot League championship in 10 years, and just the third NCAA FCS berth in program history.

Smith came to Holy Cross from the University of New Haven, where he served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for three years. He helped lead the Chargers to a 19-8 record in Northeast-10 Conference play during that time, with the team finishing either second or third in the league standings every season. Smith coached three All-Americans and eight All-Northeast-10 selections along the offensive line during his three seasons at New Haven, with the team leading the conference in yards per rush during both the 2014 (4.4) and 2015 (5.0) seasons.

Prior to his time at New Haven, Smith spent two seasons as offensive line coach at the University of Northern Colorado. In two years with the Bears, he coached an offensive line which ranked sixth (2013) and fifth (2012) in the Big Sky Conference in sacks allowed. Smith also coached four honorable mention All-Big Sky selections in his two seasons at Northern Colorado.

Smith previously spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University at Buffalo where he worked with the linebackers. He also coordinated the scout team and assisted with all scout special team units.

Smith is a 2009 graduate of Holy Cross and was a four-year starting center for the Crusaders. He earned second team All-Patriot League honors as a senior, and still holds the school record for the most consecutive games started (45). Smith was a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection and was a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to the nation’s top scholar-athlete.