Kolby Smith joined the Miami Dolphins in 2020 and was promoted to offensive assistant in 2022. He served as a quality control coach from 2020-21.
Smith has helped the Dolphins post three consecutive winning seasons from 2020-22, the first time Miami has done this since 2001-03. The Dolphins earned a playoff berth in 2022 for the first time since 2016.
In 2022, Smith worked with an offense that finished in the top 10 (sixth, 364.5 yards per game) for the first time since 1995. Miami averaged 6.1 yards per play, which ranked second in the NFL. Smith worked closely with the running backs as Raheem Mostert (891 rushing yards) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (860 rushing yards – 392 of which came with Miami) both ran for career highs.
Smith worked primarily with the running backs as a quality control coach from 2020-21. He helped develop running back Myles Gaskin – a seventh-round pick (234th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft – who was the team's leading rusher in both seasons. The Dolphins had winning records in both seasons, the franchise's first back-to-back winning seasons since 2002-03.
Smith came to Miami with seven years of collegiate experience as a running backs coach – one season at Rutgers (2019), five at Louisville (2014-18) and one at Western Kentucky (2013).
He spent the 2019 season helping sophomore running back Isiah Pacheco improve in several statistical categories from the previous season. Pacheco set career highs in carries (169), rushing yards (729) and rushing touchdowns (7). His seven total touchdowns led the team.
From 2014-18, Smith served as running backs coach at Louisville, his alma mater. In his five seasons, the Cardinals played in four bowl games.
In 2017, Smith helped Louisville set school records in rushing yards (3,186), breaking the record set the previous season (3,148) when Smith also served as running backs coach. Louisville ranked 15th in the nation, averaging 245.1 rushing yards per game in 2017. His three running backs combined to rush for 1,225 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Smith helped running back Brandon Radcliff rush for 903 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2016. Louisville posted 37 rushing touchdowns that season and Radcliff went on to the NFL, where he spent part of the 2017 season on Miami's practice squad.
In 2015, Louisville rushed for over 200 yards in four of their final five games of the season. Smith helped the squad average 171.0 rushing yards per game and total 23 rushing touchdowns.
In Smith's first season at Louisville in 2014, he helped the team total 28 rushing touchdowns and average 142.7 rushing yards per game. His backs had six 100-yard rushing games and the Cardinals won nine games and earned a Belk Bowl bid.
Smith's first job as a position coach came in 2013 at Western Kentucky where he coached running backs. He helped mentor running back Antonio Andrews, who set a school record with 1,730 rushing yards that season. Andrews also set school records with 11 100-yard rushing performances that season.
Smith entered the coaching ranks as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Arkansas in 2012.
He played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after they drafted him in the fifth round (148th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. Smith played in 27 career games with nine starts, totaling 162 carries for 540 yards (3.3 avg.) and three touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 209 yards (6.1 avg.) and totaled six special teams tackles (five solo).
After having his 2009 season cut short by injury, he spent parts of 2010 with Denver and Jacksonville before retiring.
Smith played collegiately at Louisville, where he helped the Cardinals win 12 games as a senior in 2006. He scored seven touchdowns that season and helped Louisville earn its first BCS bowl victory in the Orange Bowl. During his collegiate career, Smith rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Smith and his wife, Ashley, have three sons – Kolby Jr., Karter and Klay.
