New RB coach signs on with UA

FAYETTEVILLE — Kolby Smith was officially announced as the University of Arkansas’ new running backs coach Tuesday.

Smith, 39, signed a contract with the Razorbacks that is worth $325,000 in the first year. His contract can be extended for another season at an annual rate of $350,000 if Sam Pittman is still employed as Arkansas’ head football coach in March 2025, according to language in the contract, which was finalized Monday and released as part of a Freedom of Information Act request.

Smith was at Arkansas’ football spring practice Tuesday.

Smith was first reported to have accepted the position last Saturday, one day after former running backs coach Jimmy Smith resigned his position to accept a similar job at TCU. Jimmy Smith had one season remaining on his Arkansas contract that paid $360,000 per year and included the title of associate head coach.

Kolby Smith played for Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino at Louisville from 2003-06 on teams that had a combined 41-9 record. Smith rushed for 697 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 5 touchdowns as a senior on the Cardinals’ Big East championship team.

Smith came to Arkansas to work for Petrino as a graduate assistant in 2012. He followed Petrino to Western Kentucky in 2013 and Louisville from 2014-18 as running backs coach.

He coached running backs at Rutgers in 2019.

Smith worked the past four seasons in multiple roles with the Miami Dolphins, first as an offensive quality control coach, then as an offensive assistant.