Smith remains on football staff

FRESNO, Calif. - Matt Smith has been retained on staff by Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz, but in a new role for 2025. Smith will be an offensive quality control assistant for the Bulldogs as he enters his 10th season associated with the program.

Smith is Bulldog Born and Bulldog Bred, having played for the 'Dogs as an offensive lineman himself from 2016-21 and further serving as an offensive line graduate assistant for the program in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before taking over as the offensive line coach in 2024.

In his first season as the position coach, Smith dealt with adversity right off the bat as the offensive line saw eight different starting combinations throughout the season. Eight starting lineups were the second-most among FBS programs in 2024, and the most for the Bulldogs since having 10 combinations in 12 games in 2019.

Senior center Mose Vavao was an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection, ending his career on a high note after appearing in 58 career games with 54 career starts.

In his two seasons as an offensive line graduate assistant, Smith helped prime All-Mountain West talents with at least two offensive lineman earning postseason honors in both years.

A guy who has been there and done that himself, Smith began his Bulldog career as a walk-on in 2016 and turned into a six-year player and starter for the 'Dogs. He played offensive line (2016-21), and served as the starting center from 2019-21.

Smith battled injury throughout his career but, even while sidelined, managed a positive outlook on the offensive line. He was looked to for leadership and accountability in the position group, and quickly became a leader after having served as a primary special teams member before getting to see game action on the line.

In 2019, he was a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, an award that recognizes college football's most outstanding player who began their career as a walk-on. Smith was then named to the Rimington Award watch list in 2020, an award that spotlights the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I college football.

While a Bulldog student-athlete, Smith was a part of the 2018 Mountain West Championship team and won four games against top-ranked teams in his tenure. He was a part of the program's turnaround from its 1-11 season in 2016 to its 10-4 season in 2017. The 'Dogs had three 10-win seasons in Smith's playing career (2017, 2018, 2021).

Smith excelled in the classroom as well, earning academic recognition by the Mountain West for four-straight seasons. He was also a two-time William V. Campbell award semifinalist, an honor considered by many to be the Academic Heisman.

Smith graduated with an undergraduate degree in business administration with an emphasis in sports marketing in 2020. He also completed his masters in curriculum and instruction at Fresno State.

Smith is a native of Long Beach, Calif. and graduated from St. John Bosco High School in 2016. Smith and his wife Jayme were student-athletes together at Fresno State with Jayme (Budwig) being on the track & field team from 2016-19.

Fresno State Athletics

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