Now that FAMU has its head coaching spot filled, it will need to fill another pair of big shoes on its football staff.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Smith is leaving the program as James Colzie III takes over for Willie Simmons.
“God opens doors and closes doors. And he’s closed the door for me in this chapter of my life, and we enjoyed it,” Smith said in an exclusive interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We got some stuff in the works, and it’ll come out sooner or later. We’ll see soon what the future holds.”
Smith had reportedly taken the defensive coordinator position at Murray State earlier in the month, but that turned out not to be the case.
Smith played his college football at Valdosta State before becoming a high school head coach for over a decade. He then spent one season at Alabama as an offensive quality control analyst, helping Nick Saban and Co. win the 2015 national title. He spent the next three years at the University of Florida as an assistant recruiting coordinator before being hired by Willie Simmons.
Simmons hired Smith on his inaugural staff at FAMU, and he helped build the defense that would become the building block for FAMU to win 45 games in five seasons, culminating in the 2023 SWAC title and a win in the Celebration Bowl. Smith worked with defensive lineman Isaiah Land, who led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, as he was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and became the Rattlers’ first Buck Buchanan Award (national defensive player of the year) winner. Smith also worked with safety Markquese Bell, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
“It was a special time [at FAMU] and something special to be a part of,” Smith said. “The way the fans always supported and cheered us on made it special. Even the way the fans supported me after Coach Simmons was gone was a special time.”
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